Alaska employees will honor subpoenas

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Seven state employees will honor subpoenas in the investigation of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's firing of a public safety commissioner, a state official said.

State Attorney General Talis Colberg Sunday announced the decision that the workers would testify followed a ruling Thursday by a state judge that the employees were legally required to respond to the subpoenas, the Anchorage (Alaska) Daily News reported.

In a statement issued by his office, Colberg said all seven employees have decided to cooperate with the legislative investigation.

"Despite my initial concerns about the subpoenas, we respect the court's decision to defer to the Legislature," Colberg said in the statement.

Retired state prosecutor Steve Branchflower, who is investigating the matter for the Alaska Legislature, is expected to complete his report this week.

At issue is whether Palin, the Republican vice presidential nominee, abused her power as governor by firing former Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan after he refused to fire Palin's former brother-in-law from his state trooper job.