Evidence: McCain campaign misled public

Palin Administration authorized Monegan travel that was called 'insubordinate'

Today more evidence surfaced showing the McCain-Palin Campaign has misled the public in an effort to stop Alaska's Troopergate investigation.

"They've sent outsiders up to Alaska to mislead the public about a bi-partisan investigation, and personally attack anyone in their way," said State Rep. Les Gara (D-Anchorage). "The Governor agreed to this Legislative investigation until the day she joined the McCain ticket, and attacking Alaskans to get out of this commitment is plain wrong."

Today ABC released a document that disproves the latest argument the self-named "McCain Truth Squad" made to stop the investigation - that, according to paid McCain campaign staffers, Commissioner of Public Safety Walt Monegan was fired for being "insubordinate." They argued that he'd tried to go to Washington, D.C. to get funding for a Sexual Assault Unit at the Alaska State Troopers to help reverse Alaska's worst in the nation rape statistics. It was alleged at a press event this week by the McCain camp that the Palin Administration did not authorize the trip, and that Monegan was fired for trying to go on the trip anyway.

Attached is the travel document from the Governor's Office authorizing Monegan to go on that trip. That document was left out of the presentation by the "Truth Squad" earlier this week. "Commissioner Monegan was doing what the Governor said he was supposed to do - hire troopers to combat Alaska's crime problems," Gara said.

This document adds to the evidence that the McCain camp has used misleading information to try to stop the Alaska Legislature's investigation into Monegan's firing by Governor Palin. The full ABC web story follows can be seen here http://www.abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=5844710&page=1 .

Rep. Gara has released the following statement:

"No matter how they spin the evidence, the McCain camp can't hide the truth. In June a bipartisan committee authorized the investigation by a unanimous vote of 8 Republicans and 4 Democrats. The McCain argument that this is a "partisan" investigation is silly. Until Aug. 29 the Governor agreed the Legislative investigation was needed and proper, and that she and her staff would comply with it. The McCain camp efforts at blocking it, and this week's refusal of witnesses to testify, are a reversal of the Governor's pre-campaign commitment. And this week's personal attacks against Alaska law enforcement officials, including Commissioner Monegan were sad. Today we have more proof that they are also false."

Commissioner Monegan is a respected career law enforcement officer, and has served under Republican and Democratic administrations.

From a Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) press release