Stonewalling Sarah Palin

When an investigation into allegations that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin - now the Republican vice presidential nominee - tried to have her state trooper ex-brother-in-law, Palin said she welcomed the investigation.

Now, even the Anchorage Daily News is accusing Palin of stonewalling the investigators.

In July, when legislators started talking about conducting an investigation, Palin denied any wrongdoing and said she welcomed an investigation.

"Hold me accountable," she said.

The Legislature took her up on that offer. But this week, she basically told the Legislature, "Never mind."

Palin's lawyer has asked the Legislature to drop its investigation. He had the governor file an ethics complaint against herself, in a bid to turn the entire matter over to the state Personnel Board, which would hire an independent investigator.

This is not an open and transparent attempt to establish Gov. Palin's accountability. It is an attempt to drag out the investigation until after voters decide the fate of her vice-presidential bid.

Instead, Gov. Palin should honor her pledge to cooperate with the Legislature's investigation, conducted by former state prosecutor Steve Branchflower.

This is just not an Alaska issue, it is now an American issue, and the American people deserve to know the truth.