Sarah Palin cleared in power abuse probe

Alaska Governor and Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin was cleared on Monday of wrongdoing in an abuse-of-power investigation into the firing of the state's public safety commissioner.

The Alaska Personnel Board report ran contrary to findings from a legislative inquiry that concluded in October she had abused the power of her office by pressuring subordinates to fire a state trooper involved in a feud with her family.

Palin, who is Republican presidential candidate John McCain's running mate, brought the issue to the personnel board herself. The board, a three-member panel under Palin's authority, was responsible for determining if she had broken any laws.

The legislative inquiry, which Palin called a partisan effort led by Democrats, carried no penalty.