Alaska Trooper Says He Hasn’t Been Contacted by Investigator

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Alaska state trooper at the heart of a legislative investigation into whether Gov. Sarah Palin abused her power said Tuesday he has not been contacted by the man overseeing the inquiry. The Legislature is investigating whether Palin, the Republican candidate for vice president, fired former Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan because he would not dismiss trooper Mike Wooten. Wooten went through a messy divorce from Palin’s sister. But nearly six weeks into the investigation, Wooten told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he has not been contacted by the Legislature’s investigator, former Anchorage prosecutor Stephen Branchflower. “I have not been contacted by him, nor will I contact him,” Wooten said. “If he wants to talk to me, I will cooperate 100 percent with him, but he has not contacted me.” Wooten, 36, admits using a Taser on his stepson, but said he poses no threat to the Palin family and didn’t drink in his ... (link)