On July 11, 2008, Palin dismissed Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan for not adequately filling state trooper vacancies, and because he "did not turn out to be a team player on budgeting issues."[58] She instead offered him a position as executive director of the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, which he turned down.[59][60]
Her power to fire him is not in dispute, but Monegan alleged that his dismissal may have been an abuse of power tied to his reluctance to fire Palin's former brother-in-law, Alaska State Trooper Mike Wooten, who had been involved in a divorce and child custody battle with Palin's sister, Molly McCann.[61] Palin is currently being investigated by an independent investigator hired by the Alaska Legislature[62] to determine whether she abused her power when she fired Monegan. The investigation is scheduled to end October 30, only days before the November 4 presidential election.[63]Palin has admitted that her staff had made at least 25 contacts with public safety officials about firing her sister’s ex-husband, including at least one where an employee claimed to speak for her although she has stated that he acted without her permission or knowledge.
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