Post Troopergate: Ethics Probe on Palin Expands

Sarah Palin is claiming she was vindicated by Friday's Troopergate report while investigations into her unethical practices as Governor have expanded. Here's what Palin said yesterday on a phone interview from Philadelphia:

"Well, I'm very, very pleased to be cleared of any legal wrongdoing ... any hint of any kind of unethical activity there."

The report says the exact opposite about Palin and her actions:

"Governor Sarah Palin abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act. Alaska Statute 39.52.110(a) provides."

We now learn that the state Personnel Board's investigation of Palin has expanded to include other ethics complaints against her. The Personnel Board was appointed by Palin to investigate Troopergate separately from the Legislative investigation. Although the Personnel Board hasn't specified what else they are investigating, two other ethics complaints involving Palin are known. One, claims that Palin didn't follow state hiring practices when hiring a supporter. Another alleges that trooper Mike Wooten's personnel file was illegally breached by state officials.