McCain campaign officials said yesterday that “they are done answering questions” about Sarah Palin’s firing of Alaska’s former Public Safety Commissioner. Palin’s lawyers have agreed to “general parameters of immediate cooperation” with the investigation she requested from the state Personnel Board, which hired Anchorage lawyer Timothy Petumenos to conduct the inquiry. Palin spokeswoman Meg Stapleton said the state investigator has “asked to keep things confidential, so we will respect those wishes”:
“The governor waived confidentiality, and Mr. Petumenos has just stated as of this moment that he would like for things to remain confidential,” Stapleton said. “So that is why we are telling you as of today, we are no longer going to be discussing aspects of this as directed by Mr. Petumenos.”
The Bush White House has frequently offered this same excuse, refusing to comment on “ongoing investigations.”