Official Sarah Palin Defense Fund Debuts Today

The Wall Street Journal's John D. McKinnon and Monica Langley are reporting that Gov. Sarah Palin's supporters will announce today the formation of a legal defense fund to help her pay her legal bills, respond to a rash of politically-motivated ethics complaints and perhaps boost her political standing. A dozen new ethics complaints have been filed against Ms. Palin in the past four months, by Democrats, liberal activists, and even one filer who calls herself a Republican (see here and here).

"The purpose is really to provide a legal and proper way for the governor's supporters to help her respond to these frivolous complaints that have been leveled, keeping her from being able to do her job and...really harassing her," said fund trustee Kristan Cole, a real-estate agent and longtime friend of the governor from her hometown of Wasilla.

Legal defense funds for politicians are becoming more common as scrutiny of politicians has intensified, but such accounts are sometimes less regulated than campaign funds. For that reason, the fund for the governor will operate under stringent guidelines. Donations will be limited to $150 or less and will not be accepted from corporations, state contractors, state or federal lobbyists, lobbying firms or foreign nationals. Names of donors, dates and contribution amounts will also be made available to the public. Those who are organizing the fund say that Gov. Palin wanted the fund to be more restrictive and transparent than other legal defense funds.

- JP