An Anchorage judge three years ago warned Sarah Palin and members of her family to stop "disparaging" the reputation of Alaska State Trooper Michael Wooten, who at the time was undergoing a bitter separation and divorce from Palin's sister Molly.
Allegations that Palin, her husband Todd, and at least one top gubernatorial aide continued to vilify Wooten-after Palin became Alaska's governor and pressured state police officials to take action against him-are at the center of "Troopergate," a political and ethical controversy which has embroiled Palin's administration and is currently the subject of an official inquiry by a special investigator hired by the state legislature.
Court records obtained by NEWSWEEK show that during the course of divorce hearings three years ago, Judge John Suddock heard testimony from an official of the Alaska State Troopers' union about how Sarah Palin-then a private citizen-and members of her family, including her father and daughter, lodged up to a dozen complaints against Wooten with the state police. The union official told the judge that he had never before been asked to appear as a divorce-case witness, that the union believed family complaints against Wooten were "not job-related," and that Wooten was being "harassed" by Palin and other family members.
Court documents show that Judge Suddock was disturbed by the alleged attacks by Palin and her family members on Wooten's behavior and character. "Disparaging will not be tolerated-it is a form of child abuse," the judge told a settlement hearing in October 2005, according to typed notes of the proceedings. The judge added: "Relatives cannot disparage either. If occurs [sic] the parent needs to set boundaries for their relatives."
A spokesperson for the law firm that represented Palin's sister, now known as Molly Hackett, said Hackett's lawyer would have no comment because custody issues are still in litigation. Other lawyers representing Sarah Palin in connection with the state legislative investigation-which is examining whether she abused her powers as governor in trying to have Wooten fired or disciplined-had no immediate comment. Palin's official gubernatorial spokeswoman did not respond to e-mails and a phone message requesting comment.
Wooten's lawyer also did not respond to messages requesting comment. John Cyr, executive director of the State Troopers union, who testified at the divorce hearing and is acting as Wooten's spokesman, said Wooten has avoided giving media interviews because he wants to avoid criticizing his former relatives (to date, Wooten has granted just one interview, to CNN).
As the divorce case dragged on, the judge's concern about family "disparagement" appeared to deepen. In an order signed Jan. 31, 2006, which granted Palin's sister and Wooten a final divorce decree, Judge Suddock continued to express concern about attacks by Palin's family on Wooten. The judge even threatened to curb Palin's sister's child custody rights if family criticism of Wooten continued.
In monitoring how a joint-custody arrangement worked out, the judge said in his order that he would pay particular attention to problems noted by a "custody investigator," specifically "the disparagement of the father [Wooten] by the mother [Molly Hackett, Sarah Palin's sister] and her family members."
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Comments: 52
golds why is that.
Juan spot on.
Ghostly me either.
Too much like that for me Ellie.
I have no doubts this woman tried to get him fired for whatever reason but the outcome more than likely won't go public due to McCain campaigns efforts to squelch the whole thing.
While divorce is never easy on anyone's family. I do think that Sarah Palin decided to reap a bit of vengence when she became gov. She is not one you want turn your back on, she has left knives in the backs of quite a few people that helped her in her political career.
This is about the abuse of power, the woman is unfit for any position of responsibility.
We have only the families word that those events happened. Where are the doctors reports on the tasered child? My nephew got tasered and they had to take him to the doctor to get the probe things removed so I can only imagine what it would have done to a child. Ever seen any of that type of thing? Nope cause it doesnt exist. Palin and her family lied plain and simple. Now I have a sister that I would do anything for so I do understand the reasons why she did what she did what I cannot accept is that she has continually lied to the people of Alaska and America by continuing this.
Seaweed you do not have any proof other than words of the Palin family that the exhusband did anything. Palin has proven herself to be vindictive when she or anyone in her family is scorned. I know that the people who have posted her do not support an abusive police officer but again the only people who are accusing him of being abusive are the Palin family and the wing nuts in the Republician party. You are using a fallacy here because you can support the Trooper without supporting abusive behavior.
I found a quote from the judge in this case who said he questioned Sarah and her sister trying to destroy the ex-husbands only source of income, and didn't they realize it would ultimately make it impossible for him to pay child support, and therefore the ultimate harm was to the children.
So much for the "family values" crowd.
Re; "We have only the families word that those events happened." I'll try to remember that when you ask for my aide when your family is being abused.
I d i d n't k n o w I h a d t o t y p e s l o w s o y o u c o u l d
u n d e r s t a nd. T r y r e a d i n g t h e p u b l i c r e c o r d a n d p o l i c e
r e p o r t s.
G r a n t e d t h a t s n o t p r o o f b u t t h e r ec o r d h a s n't b e e n
e x p u n g e d y e t e i t h e r h a s i t! Three years and no resoluton?
Braxton...How has she proven her vindictiveness. Got any examples. PLease don't site the "trooper gate" incident as thats just the trooper accusing Palin of being vindictive and the left wing nuts in the Democratic party.
Hey, I saw it in my comment section.
B O O !...
Grabbing his heart, he gasps out, "Dammit Palin, will you stop that!"
What do you think, Captain?
Heres a quote from an interview from a CNN interview. Not eh best sourse of credible news in my opinion but it has also been on the AP wires. Don't let the facts get in the way of your reality.
" In 2006, state investigators found Wooten guilty of "a significant pattern of judgment failures," including using a Taser on his 10-year-old stepson and drinking beer while operating a state trooper vehicle. Wooten was suspended for 10 days as "a last chance to take corrective action."
Although a great idea to yank custody of a child from abusive parents a Judge will not nor can not do it at his will. Case in point children now are suing their parents for "divorce".
for reasons of-----------??-----------. Wouldn't it grand if your child decided to get back at you for taking his Ipod away so he said you hit him with a garden hose? And because he had a mark on his leg from playing flag football the judge believed it was from a hose so when you came home from work your son was gone and in protective custody. Oh yeah that's the way the system should work.
Check out the public record and assorted news reports from the AP or as noted above CNN if you want some facts. I'm thinking your not really concerned with the facts or you would already know that the tasering and the drinking in his patrol car and all the other stuff is noted in the public records of the Alaska district Attorneys office and chronicled in the Alaskan news papers as the incidents unfolded. You vitriolic bias has no quarter in a discussion about ideas. You should take a page from the child rearing chronicles and live by the rule "if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all."
He would not fire someone that used a taser on his 7 year old son. He would not fire someone that abused his wife. He would no fire someone that tried to get women to please him so they would not get tickets.
Hmmmm sounds like a person you want in charge of the patrol.