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Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's opinion of her ex-brother-in-law, Mike Wooten, an Alaska state trooper, who Palin allegedly pressured the state's top cop to fire, appears to have darkened only after his marriage to her sister failed in 2005.

When Palin was mayor of the small town of Wasilla, she had been a character reference for Wooten when the Air Force veteran was pursuing a career in law enforcement.

In a Jan. 1, 2000, letter of reference, Palin wrote that if "America had more people with the grace and sincerity that mirrors the character of Mike Wooten...we would have a much kinder, gentler, trustworthy nation as a result. ...

"I have witnessed Mike's gift of calm and kindness toward many young kids here in Wasilla," said Palin's Jan. 1, 2000 letter written on City of Wasilla letterhead. "I have never seen him raise his voice, nor lose patience nor become aggitated [sic] in the presence of any child. Instead, Mike consistently remains a fine role model for my own children, and other young people in Wasilla.

"I believe the United States Air Force has been fortunate to have the services of Mike these past 10 years. His work ethic, his American patriotism, his obvious dedication to traditional values, and his strong faith in God and truth is witnessed in Mike's everyday living...I do not hesitate in praising this man."

Beyond the contacts from her husband and staff since she became governor in December 2006, Palin was deeply enmeshed in the divorce and custody battle between Wooten and her sister before she was sworn in as governor, according to a review of documents relating to the case.

Palin was protective of her sister, according to court documents.

When Wooten's marriage to Palin's sister soured in 2005, Palin filed several formal complaints against her ex-brother-in-law alleging he engaged in illegal behavior while on duty. But her complaints relied heavily on second-hand information, some of which was later determined to be suspect and unverifiable.

Lodging 36 accusations against Wooten in 2005 alone, Palin and her family appeared to be waging a vendetta against the trooper who was assigned to the wildlife division. Palin seemed personally obsessed with ending his career.

Still, Alaska law enforcement officials investigated all of Palin's accusations and concluded that a handful of Palin's 36 allegations against her brother-in-law did violate department policy, including an admission by Wooten that he tasered his stepson, Payton, and drank beer while on duty. The department suspended Wooten for 10 days, which his union negotiated down to five.

Palin's interest in - or obsession with - the Wooten case surged again after she became Alaska's governor and Wooten appealed to a court for additional custody and visitation rights.
 
On July 11, 2008, Palin dismissed her public safety commissioner, former Anchorage police chief Walt Monegan, who has since described how his relationship with the governor deteriorated when he refused to comply with requests from Palin's associates to oust Wooten from the state troopers.

The state legislature authorized an independent counsel probe into whether Palin and her staff fired Monegan in July after he refused to fire Wooten.

In July, Gov. Palin vowed to cooperate with the probe. However, since her surprise selection as the Republican vice presidential nominee, she - as well as her husband and senior staff aides - have balked at giving depositions.

The McCain/Palin campaign is now attempting to derail the investigation claiming it has been "tainted" by Democrats even though a majority of Republicans voted in favor of it.

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