Law Firms
Gibson Dunn Worked Pro Bono Seeking to Block Troopergate Probe
Posted Feb 11, 2009, 09:27 am CST
By Debra Cassens Weiss
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher was among the law firms donating pro bono assistance to six Alaska legislators seeking to block the Troopergate investigation of Gov. Sarah Palin.
The law firm donated about $185,000 in billable time, the Am Law Daily reports. The firm also represented GOP presidential candidate John McCain in lawsuits challenging his citizenship and is known for its support of Republican causes, the story says.
Brena, Bell & Clarkson did about $40,000 in work for the legislators, and the Liberty Institute contributed about $40,000 in time. The firms had hoped to collect fees if they were successful, the story says.
The Troopergate probe investigated Palin’s firing of the state police chief, Walt Monegan. He contended he was fired after resisting pressure from Palin and her supporters to fire her brother-in-law, a state trooper who was involved in a contentious divorce from Palin’s sister. A report issued by the legislature concluded Palin had constitutional authority to fire Monegan.
One casualty of the probe may be Alaska Attorney General Talis Colberg. He was criticized for his representation of seven state employees who initially refused to testify before a legislative panel investigating Troopergate. Colberg resigned yesterday.
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