October 11, 2008 Panel: Alaska Governor unlawfully abused power in firing Play video

(NECN) - A report by a bi-partisan investigative panel has concluded that Governor Sarah Palin unlawfully abused her authority by trying to have her former brother-in law fired.

The report says that Palin violated state ethic laws because she and her husband tried to get state trooper Mike Wooten fired while he was in the midst of a bitter divorce with the governor's sister.

The investigation began as in inquiry into Palin's dismissal of public safety commissioner Walter Monegan.

He claimed he was dismissed because he would not buckled under pressure from Palin to fire Wooten.

Palin was asked about the inquiry on the campaign trail Thursday:

"We have nothing to hide. Absolutely nothing to hide, so, it's a governor's right and responsibility to make sure that they have the right people in the right place at the right time to best serve the people who hired them, and for me, the people of Alaska, so my cabinet's gotta be the right cabinet for the people of Alaska."

The investigation found that Monegan's dismissal was lawful, but that his refusal to fire Palin's brother-in-law was likely a contributing factor to his own firing.

In response, the McCain campaign calls the report a partisan inquiry led by Obama supporters.

A campaign spokeswoman says the panel seriously over reached making a tortured argument.

ABC News reporter Steven Portnoy has more on the story.