" The real damage to Palin from Troopergate comes with an injury claim involving trooper Wooten when he hurt his back while in the line of duty.

Independent investigator Steve Branchflower testified recently he believes someone in the governor's office tried to block Wooten's workers' compensation injury benefits.

Harbor Adjustment Services, the company hired by the state to process, evaluate and decide on workers' benefit claims, had great financial incentive in bowing to pressure from the governor to deny Wooten's injury claim.

Obviously, the state is Harbor Adjustment Services' largest client. The owner of the company denies the governor's office pressured her to deny Wooten's benefits. Why wouldn't she? Ratting out the governor could cost her the lucrative state contract.

But Branchflower says an employee with Harbor Adjustment Services contradicts the owner and has testified the governor's office did apply pressure to deny Wooten his benefits.

Branchflower says the unnamed employee testified, "I don't, you know, care if it's the president who wants the claim denied. I'm not going to deny it unless I have the medical evidence to do that,"

"Murlene Wilkes, the proprietor of Harbor Adjusting Services in Anchorage, had originally denied that she was pressured by Gov. Palin's office to deny state trooper Mike Wooten's claim for workers compensation benefits.

But Wilkes changed her story two weeks ago when she was subpoenaed by Steven Branchflower, the former federal prosecutor who was appointed in July to probe allegations Gov. Palin, Republican presidential candidate John McCain's running mate, abused her office by abruptly ousting Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan, state officials knowledgeable about her conversation with Branchflower said.

Wilkes has a $1.2 million contract with the state to handle workers compensation claims. Her contract with the state was up but her firm was recently given a new contract despite the fact that there were others who provided the state with a lower bid than Wilkes's firm. One of the other applicants who submitted a lower bid has appealed the decision.

Wilkes told Branchflower she believed it was impressed upon her from Palin's office that she would lose the contract if she did not deny the claim, state officials knowledgeable about her testimony said.

Although Wooten did receive worker's compensation benefits for about three months, his claim was suddenly denied and he was forced to hire a lawyer and appeal the issue..."

"But Branchflower has obtained evidence that extends beyond Wilkes's statements that shows the denial of Wooten's benefits was due to Palin's office involvement in the case, according to the officials knowledgeable about this aspect of the probe.

Branchflower has apparently zeroed in on a routing slip dated Aug. 21about a month after the ethics probe into Palin was launchedfrom the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development shows Wooten's workers comp file was pulled and sent to the attention of Mike Monagle, a state manager with the workers' compensation division.

"Wooten, as requested," the routing slip says, which was made out to the attention of "Mike Monagle."

Uh, oh.

No wonder she's doing everything she can to squash the Troopergate investigation that she herself instigated and said, 'Hold me accountable'.

That was approved 12-0 by 8 GOP and 4 DEM legislators on the Judiciary Committee unanimously.

The real damage to Palin from Troopergate comes with an injury claim involving trooper Wooten when he hurt his back while in the line of duty.

I heard someone on Rachel Maddow's show mention this as the real crux of Palin's troopergate problem several weeks ago. Glad to see this is coming out. Palin has a habit of settling personal scores by using the political clout of her office. Not someone the American people should want in the highest office in the land.

It all sounds so very familiar. Cheney the sequel.

Wilkes told Branchflower she believed it was impressed upon her from Palin's office that she would lose the contract if she did not deny the claim, state officials knowledgeable about her testimony said.

Just another arrow of corruption stuck into the Mukluk Messiah's "reform" armor.

She is as dirty as dirty can be.

A majority now view her negatively in recent polls.

Alaskans are increasingly getting angry with Palin for the negative light she's casting on Alaska and her refusal to cooperate with an investigation she herself instigated.

It wouldn't be surprising if she's impeached after McCain-Palin lose in November and the Alaskan legislature convene in January.

Well that would be a fitting end.

The outcome of the Alaskan Attorney General encouraging witnesses to disregard subpoenas should be an interesting story to follow as well.

It's against the law

Well that would be a fitting end.

#9 | Posted by 726

In any event, this will not turn out well for Mrs Palin.

Too bad she has lost her youthful looks, she can't even fall back on those anymore.

When she looses, does her future son-in-law still have to stay married to the daughter?

Cheney the sequel.

#6 | Posted by Lipzoidial

So THAT'S why they're sooo desperate to make her vp?

This doesnt matter!

Just another case of MSM hate, plus I dont watch H&C simply becuase we hate Alan Colms.

Sincerely

Nanc "I cant Hear You, la, la, la" Butch

BTW

"ADN" stands for Anchorage Daily News - the preeminent newspaper in Alaska.

Hey, GW was just reading goat stories...never mind the satelite tech in his limo only costs $2000 ~ Thus he apparently saw it as he arrived:>)

Ha! When Spud first mentioned this story in blog-world someone sed the story didn't have any legs.

Now it looks like it has enuff legs to pull a sled across the tundra and win the freakin' Iditarod.

Be Well.

MoneyWar will ignore this story, though...probably ~ unless he's really bored for it's only business as usual:>)