Palin says report says she acted lawfully

ARLINGTON, Virginia (Reuters) - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin acted "within proper and lawful authority" in removing the state's public safety commissioner, the McCain-Palin Republican presidential ticket said on Friday in response to a state report.

An Alaska ethics inquiry found on Friday that Palin, John McCain's vice presidential candidate, abused the power of her state office in connection with the dismissal of Alaska Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan.

The state investigation centered on whether the firing of Monegan was linked to Palin's personal feud with Michael Wooten, a state trooper involved in a contentious divorce with the governor's sister.

The inquiry found that while it was within the governor's authority to dismiss Monegan, she violated the public trust by pressuring those who worked for her to act in a way that advanced her personal wishes.

"Governor Palin knowingly permitted a situation to continue where impermissible pressure was placed on several subordinates in order to advance a personal agenda, to wit: to get Trooper Michael Wooten fired," the report said.

The McCain-Palin statement said, "Today's report shows that the Governor acted within her proper and lawful authority in the reassignment of Walt Monegan."

"This was a partisan led inquiry run by (Barack) Obama supporters and the Palins were completely justified in their concern regarding Trooper (Michael) Wooten given his violent and rogue behavior," the campaign's statement said. Obama is the Democratic presidential candidate.

"Lacking evidence to support the original Monegan allegation, the Legislative Council seriously overreached, making a tortured argument to find fault without basis in law or fact," the McCain-Palin statement said.

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