Palin gives deposition in ethics dispute

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Republican U.S. vice presidential nominee and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has given a deposition in the state's Troopergate investigation, her attorney says.

Timothy Petumenos, an investigator for the Alaska Personnel Board, interviewed Palin for two hours Friday night in St. Louis, CNN reported. The governor has been named in an ethics complaint alleging she unfairly fired the state's public safety director, Walt Moneghan.

Palin's attorney said she met with Petumenos and gave him "detailed" information about her role in the Moneghan affair, in which the governor is accused of unfairly dismissing Moneghan because he allegedly would not fire a state trooper, Palin's former brother-in-law, against whom Palin held a personal grudge.

"The governor was very pleased to finally get the chance to get an opportunity to get the whole truth out to an unbiased and independent investigator," Palin attorney Thomas Van Flein told CNN.

The Personnel Board investigation was launched after she was selected by Republican U.S. presidential nominee John McCain as his running mate.

A separate probe of "Troopergate" by the Alaska Legislature found Palin was within her rights to fire Moneghan, but violated ethical standards by pressuring him to fire the trooper, who had divorced Palin's sister.