Palin: Monegan wasn't fired, he quit

NEW YORK, Sept. 13 (UPI) -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, under investigation for the dismissal of a former commissioner of public safety, says she didn't fire him -- he quit.

In an interview with The New Yorker, the Republican vice presidential nominee said she wanted Walter Monegan to accept a reassignment as director of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, where he would focus on Alaska's drinking problem.

"It was a job that was open, commensurate in salary, pretty much -- $10,000 less," but she told the magazine Monegan didn't want the job so he quit working for the state.

The state Senate Judiciary Committee has voted to authorize subpoenas in an investigation into the matter, including for Palin's husband Todd, and several of her top aides.

The committee is investigating whether the governor improperly pressured Monegan to fire her former brother-in-law, Michael Wooten, an Alaska state trooper, and then fired Monegan when he refused.

The governor has said her handling of the matter in July had nothing to do with Monegan's refusal to fire Wooten.

Also in The New Yorker interview, the governor acknowledged speaking to Monegan before she was a candidate for governor about her complaints regarding Wooten.