Palin Knew Her New Public Safety Commissioner Was Accused of Harassment

Sarah Palin replaced Alaska’s public safety commissioner with a man she knew had been accused of sexually harassing an employee.

An independent investigator concluded last week that Palin abused her power as governor by orchestrating a pressure campaign to fire her ex brother-in-law, state trooper Mark Wooten. Palin allegedly fired Alaska’s esteemed public safety commissioner, Walt Monegan, because Monegan refused to fire Wooten.

TPM Muckraker reports that Monegan’s replacement Chuck Kopp, according to the independent investigator’s report, admitted the accusation against him when probed by Palin’s chief of staff prior to his appointment. Palin later claimed she had no idea that her handpicked commissioner had been accused of sex harassment. Monegan, by contrast, had clashed with the governor over her plans to slash budgets for programs to prevent sexual abuse in Alaska, and bring sex offenders to justice.