The Branchflower Report on Palin

Be sure to note that The Barometer was on top of this government ethics issue on July 31, 2008, a full month before Governor Palin was tapped for the vice president’s slot on the Republican ticket.  The report by independent investigator Stephen E. Branchflower into allegations that Governor Palin fired her Commissioner of Public Safety for not firing her former brother-in-law is out, and here’s the news:  (1)  This was one wacky state trooper at the heart of the problem — I’m no prude, but Tasering children and having a beer whilst in your patrol car does cross a a few legal and ethical lines; (2) Governor Palin and the first dude probably should have kept their distance from the investigation into the trooper’s conduct; and (3) the Commissioner of Public Safety was a defiant sort who, serving at the discretion of the Governor, needed to go.  The legal conclusion of Mr. Branchflower’s report is that Governor Palin “abused her power” in violation of an Alaska statute that prohibits the use of power for personal benefit.  The case is a classic one of a step over the line for good intentions.  Fascinatingly, the Branchflower report only references the conduct of the trooper through other’s descriptions of it.  The report concludes that the Governor had no cause for concern and more timely resolution without really exploring the allegations.  Alaska personnel rules may prevent full discussion, but that perception of fairness to the Governor at least warranted an explanation for the restraint on describing the root cause of the Governor’s interactions and demands for action. 

The trooper involved was formerly Governor Palin’s brother-in-law.  This fellow from Wassilla is not blameless,  He had hurled a few threats at the governor and her father.  Extensive interviews also indicate that Governor Palin and her husband were legitimately concerned about the message having such a trooper in the Alaska state force sent to the public.  They were correct in their assessment that the trooper needed to go (although he is still on the force).  However, their relationship with him and her sister should have forced them to do the unnatural:  Step back and let the system handle it all.  Indeed, if the trooper had really hurt someone with his bizarre conduct, the questions about Governor Palin’s failure to take action would have raised allegations of bias the other way.  When caught between personal interests and a legitimate public safety concern, our authority figures need to voice their concerns, document the voicing, and then step back.  Following up on whether steps have been taken is not problematic unless the follow-up turns from inquiry into pressure, however slight or subtle. 

The Branchflower report and Governor Palin’s conduct are not Watergate material.  However, the report provides us with a reminder that those who hold the public trust should not take it lightly.  All citizens, even those who Taser 10-year-olds, are entitled to their due process, even when there are peripheral family squabbles exacerbating the tension.  Work through the lines of authority and then let the system work.  If follow-up shows the system is not working, the public official has the ability to fix the system. Governor Palin did just that with the dismissal of her Commissioner of Public Safety for what the report concludes were some fairly solid reasons.  The problem is that the dismissal follwed on the heels of a little too much follow-up on the state trooper situation by a few too many people.  Even if there was no intention to pressure the Commissioner, the sheer number of contacts could be misinterpreted.  Perception, rather than malfeasance, may well be the problem, but such is the story of public life.