Subpoenaed witnesses agree to testify

First Gentleman Todd Palin and seven state employees have now agreed to testify in the Steve Branchflower investigation into whether Gov. Sarah Palin abused her power in firing public safety commissioner Walt Monegan.

Troopergate heads to the Supreme Court, which is expected to rule by Thursday on whether to stop the investigation altogether

"This offer to respond to interrogatories is a good-faith effort on the part of Mr. Palin to avoid confrontation with the senate judiciary and to provide Mr. Branchflower the answers to the questions he believes are relevant to this investigation," said McCain-Palin spokeswoman Meg Stapleton. "The Palins hope these responses will finally demonstrate that they are an open book and indeed have

nothing to hide in this matter."

Palin's offer to cooperate comes on the heels of Attorney General Talis Colberg's announcement Sunday that seven state employees will finally honor their subpoenas, as well.

"There are limits to each branch's power in government and it was important to put to rest any question whether the subpoenas were valid, and now that the court has ruled we're willing to go forward," said Annette Kreitzer, commissioner of the Department of Administration.

But their testimonies will be written, not oral, and due the same day the Supreme Court is schedule to hear the case to toss out the investigation altogether.

"I was a little surprised that the Supreme Court was willing to hear it so quickly because in my view it's just incredibly unlikely that anything the court would be willing to do in this short time frame would have any effect on the ongoing investigation," said defense attorney Peter Maassen.

Stop the investigation is exactly what some Republican lawmakers want to do.

"The relief we're asking the Supreme Court for is a reversal and remand and a direction for entry of the temporary restraining order to stop this unlawful and unconstitutional investigation from continuing," said

their attorney, Kevin Clarkson, who is asking the state's highest court to reverse Superior Court Judge Peter Michalski's Thursday ruling that Troopergate can, indeed, continue.

"It was very gratifying to have a neutral, detached judge look at the entire situation and say look nobody's rights were violated," said Sen. Hollis French (D-Anchorage).

The Supreme Court justices' ruling is expected on Thursday - the day before Branchflower's report is due. French says the Oct. 10 deadline was chosen so that Gov. Palin would have enough time to review and, possibly, refute the findings before the Nov. 4 election.

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