Snowmachine Parts

By MICHAEL Webster: Investigative reporter September 13, 2008 at 12:01 AM PDT

Republican presidential candidate John McCain with his running mate, Sarah Palin Governor of Alaska.

Steve Branchflower, a prosecutor who retired legislators hired to probe Palin's firing of former Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan, said someone in the governor's office have also pushed one of 13 people List assignment to deny benefits to workers' compensation in state rider Mike Wooten.

The rider was involved in a divorce from Palin's sister, and Monegan has said in media interviews he believes he lost his job because he would not bow to pressure from the Palin family and at least one of assistants to the governor to fire the trooper.

In 2005, before Palin for the office, the Palin family accused Mike Wooten jumper drinking beer in his patrol car, illegally shooting a moose and firing a Taser at his son-in 11-years. Palin and her husband, Todd, also claimed Wooten threatened to kill the father of Sarah Palin. After Wooten was suspended over the allegations for five days in 2006, but still has his job. Among the complaints the Palin filed against Wooten that he has filed a complaint model workers, even if it was not really hurt.

Branchflower testified Friday at a joint hearing of the House of Alaska and the Justice Committee of the Senate in Anchorage.

Committee members vigorously debated whether to take the step of issuing subpoenas rare, with one member, Sen. Gene Therriault of North Pole, predicting that this would lead to a smackdown "court battle between the executive and legislative branches of state government.

Therriault and Senator Lesil McGuire, R-Anchorage, argued for delaying the issuance of subpoenas, if not the investigation itself, until after the Nov. 4 election.

Others wanted to go to the Branchflower investigation.

"I say it's just knowing the facts on the table, the sooner the better," said Senator Charlie Huggins, a Wasilla Republican who came to the hearing dressed in camouflage, saying he took time for a moose to attend.

Huggins joined Senate Finance Committee Chairman Hollis French and Senator Bill Wielechowski, two Democrats Anchorage, supporting the request for subpoenas Branchflower. Therriault and McGuire voted against.

Lawmakers voted to subpoena witnesses that with Sarah Palin's husband, Todd, and the unnamed employee at Harbor Adjustment Service in connection with the Troopergate investigation.

Legislators began the probe at the end of July of 08 well before Palin was announced as a vice presidential candidate. The legislators voted to spend up to $ 100,000 on Branchflower's investigation.

In testimony opened Friday Branchflower said he needed to subpoena witnesses, most of whom are state employees who refused to submit their questions or who initially agreed to watch: they were no appointments later.

One "especially important" witness on the subpoena list, Branchflower said, is Murlen Wilkes, owner of a company called Harbor Anchorage service setting. The company holds a state contract to process claims and pay workers model.

Branchflower said in August he learned that "someone from the governor's office or someone from the state" advised Wilkes to deny Wooten CLAI.