'Troopergate' probe to wrap by October

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- The Alaska state legislator leading an investigation of Republican U.S. vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin says the probe will be completed by Oct. 10.

Alaska state Sen. Hollis French, a Democrat, said Friday that even without the cooperation of three key witnesses, including the Alaska governor's husband Todd Palin, the investigation of the so-called "Troopergate" scandal will wrap up before the November presidential election, The New York Times reported.

French said investigator Stephen Branchflower has assured him the probe of whether Sarah Palin improperly pushed for the ouster of Alaska's former public safety commissioner over a personal matter involving a state trooper will be completed despite the lack of cooperation of key witnesses Todd Palin, Ivy Frye and Randy Ruaro.

Gov. Palin initially pledged cooperation with the investigation, but that has changed, with her supporters now saying French's investigation has turned into an attempt to affect the political fortunes of GOP presidential nominee Sen. John McCain of Arizona.

Gov. Palin initially denied pressing former Alaska Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan for action against her ex-brother-in-law, state trooper Mike Wooten, CNN reported. But last month she admitted her aides had contacted Monegan's office nearly two dozen times about Wooten.