Did Palin Family Feud Affect Troopers?
Law enforcement and police union officials, who requested anonymity before discussing the dispute with John McCain’s choice to be Vice President, said Palin’s fiscal 2009 budget cuts will lead to increased case loads and the possible shelving of dozens of outstanding investigations. These officials – some of whom worked with Palin during her 21 months as governor – said Palin had become increasingly frustrated with the public safety department for refusing to fire Mike Wooten, the ex-husband of Palin’s sister Molly McCann. The couple divorced in January 2006 and has been involved in a bitter custody dispute for more than three years. Though Palin insists she didn’t abuse her office to settle scores with Wooten, several of her aides and her husband had repeated contacts with police officials about firing Wooten for alleged personal and professional misconduct. On July 11, 2008, Palin fired her public safety commissioner, former Anchorage police chief Walt Monegan, who since has describe
