Wow! Talis Colberg resigns as Alaska's attorney general.

[Blue_In_AK]

Imagine that. http://progressivealaska.blogspot.com/2009/02/talis-colberg-resigns-as-alaska.html

From the communications office of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin:


February 10, 2009, Juneau, Alaska - Governor Sarah Palin today accepted the resignation of Attorney General Talis Colberg. Deputy Attorney General for the Criminal Division Rick Svobodny has been named acting attorney general.

“I determined that it was in the best interest of the State of Alaska to move on and pursue other opportunities,” Colberg said. “It was an honor to serve for the past two years.”

“Talis is a highly intelligent, thoughtful and reserved scholar who brought considerable legal knowledge and great personal integrity to the position,” Governor Palin said. “I appreciate his willingness to serve and as the search for a new attorney general begins, I will look for someone with the same strong moral character as Talis. I wish him well in his future endeavors.”

Following the censure of Todd and Palin's staffers for ignoring the legislative subpoenas (on Colberg's advice) I guess he could see the writing on the wall.


More on this at the Anchorage Daily News http://www.adn.com/monegan/story/685642.html

JUNEAU - Alaska Attorney General Talis Colberg has resigned in the wake of state legislators blasting his performance during the "Troopergate" investigation.

"He just explained that it is a tough environment right now," said Gov. Sarah Palin, who appointed Colberg to the job just over two years ago.

In an interview with the Daily News this morning, Palin said Colberg did a great job as attorney general. She talked about his background, coming from the private sector and not government, and said he served the state well.

"It is a harsh political environment right now. You saw what he went through these last couple of weeks with speculation that a couple of the lawmakers wanted to continue to grill him, a couple of the lawmakers not believing, it seems, what he had to say," Palin said. "I just hope this political environment doesn't deter others who want to make a positive difference."

<snip>

[panader0]

1. What does it all mean?

[Blue_In_AK]

2. It probably means that he was afraid he was going to be impeached.

And he may be worried about his law license.

Or it may be that Sarah threw him under the bus ... always a distinct possibility.

[Winterblues]

3. He is the one that told Todd Palin and others they didn't have top comply to a subpoena.

I believe that is what Legislaters want to question him about. Why he would think they didn't have to comply?

[katanalori]

4. Palin said whaaaaaat?

That she hopes to find someone like him to replace him? Someone who will tell people to ignore subpoenas?
This may get juicy if Talis tells all (how the McCain camp took over the AK govt. while Palin was campaigning for VP). I have visions of TC getting immunity if he sings about Palin and her cronies on the Legislator.
Palin, where are those e-mails you were supposed to release (per law) and where are the copies of the Legislative report that "cleared" you in Troopergate (after Branchwater found you guilty of abuse of power)?
Palin - transparent my a$$.

[Blue_In_AK]

6. We would all love to see the deposition she gave the Personnel Board.

One thing is clear in the Troopergate matter -- either Walt Monegan lied or Sarah Palin lied. My money's on Sarah.

[ColbertWatcher]

10. "she hopes to find someone like him to replace him?" No kidding.

How many of her friends from school are out of work?

[gratuitous]

5. Oh noes! Not a harsh political climate!

This from the woman who accused Obama of "pallin' around with terrorists." She sounds like the proverbial kid who kills his parents then begs the court for mercy since he's an orphan. Doesn't sound like Gov. Palin is enhancing her re-election prospects any too much.

[Blue_In_AK]

7. More from The Mudflats...

http://www.themudflats.net/2009/02/10/alaska-attorney-general-talis-colberg-resigns/

[Blue_In_AK]

8. And more...

"Dead Man Walking: Exit Colberg" http://www.andrewhalcro.com/dead_man_walking_exit_colberg

(2/10/09) Rumors abound about the sudden resignation of Alaska Attorney General Talis Colberg. While much is speculation, some of the theories seem to have some credibility.

Colberg's initial appointment two years ago was a complete surprise as he came into state government from a small private practice with no political experience and ended up in a highly charged political environment.

The fallout from the Troopergate subpoena fiasco has taken its toll on a guy whom all would agree is highly ethical.

There are feelings that Colberg was forced to chart the Troopergate course he did because of political pressure to stall and obfuscate the investigation.

After all, when you factor in the dramatic reversal Colberg took after agreeing in writing to cooperate with Senator Kim Elton and then abruptly went back on his word; then the absolute drubbing the court gave him with his legal challenge, there seems to have been someone else pulling the strings.

But while Governor Palin in an interview today with the Anchorage Daily News said the reason for Colberg's departure was due to the "harsh political environment," created by legislators and the Troopergate investigation, one really has to wonder about his final goodbye email to his employees.

From: General, Attorney (LAW sponsored)
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 9:13 AM
To: LAW ALL Department of Law Staff
Subject: Message from Talis J. Colberg

Good Morning:

It was an honor to serve with you. Effective immediately, Mr. Rick Svobodny is the acting Attorney General until otherwise directed by the Governor or her office.

Thank you.

Talis J. Colberg

Colberg's good bye couldn't have been more curt. He is leaving on his own free will but yet this is all he says after being their boss for two years?

Even former Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan, who was unceremoniously fired by Palin, offered gracious thanks and good will to his former employees.

Look for Palin's next Attorney General to be a pit bull.

The way things are shaping up, she's going to need someone aggressive.

[Blue_In_AK]

9. As I suspected, it appears Sarah has thrown her AG under the bus.

http://progressivealaska.blogspot.com/2009/02/sen-gary-stevens-and-rep-mike-chenault.html

I've got it from two informants now. One in Juneau and one in Anchorage. Here are the elements of what appears to be the deal:

1) Attorney General Colberg will be forced to resign, allowing the Alaska Legislature to blame him for Gov. Sarah Palin's probable role in the witness tampering that occurred during the Branchflower Investigation.

2) Alaska Senate President Gary Stevens and Alaska Speaker of the House Mike Chenault will assure that further efforts to investigate either of the Palins' roles in:

a) the termination of Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan,

b) the stymying of the Branchflower Investigation, or,

c) the Petumenos Investigation - particularly with the Palins' depositions - are thwarted or ended.

In exchange, Stevens and Chenault will not receive vetoes to projects - yet to be named - in their districts.


<snip>

[stevedeshazer]

11. Wow. Colberg's the fall guy?

Sarah gets off free.

You've got some interesting politics there in Alaska. Thanks for all the information.

:hi:

[Blue_In_AK]

12. That's the way it's looking.

I'm sure we'll be hearing more. The first thing I thought when I heard this was that Colberg was taking one for the team. From the accounts of people who know him, he really is an ethical and moral person, so it's probably for the best that he get away from Sarah. He probably knew when he told those people they didn't have to obey the subpoenas that he was on shaky legal ground.

As we've seen in the past -- Walt Monegan for one -- she has no problem whatsoever tossing people overboard if they get in her way.



Shannyn Moore is weighing in on this, also. http://shannynmoore.wordpress.com/2009/02/10/dear-sarah-letter-from-senate-president-president-gary-stevens/ I like Gryphen's response: "Let's take Talis out to dinner and get him really drunk." :rofl: