18th Ethics Complaint Filed Against Palin

Outgoing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is facing yet another ethics complaint – the 18th against her and the very thing that helped to prompt her resignation.

The latest complaint alleges she abused her office by accepting a salary and using state staff while campaigning outside Alaska for the vice presidency. It's the third complaint filed against the Republican since she announced July 3 that she was stepping down.

In her resignation speech, Palin said the array of ethics complaints was taking a personal toll and crippling her ability to govern. She officially leaves office July 26 and will be succeeded by Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell.

In her complaint, Andree McLeod said that two days before Palin was named John McCain's running mate, she signed travel documents that stated "conclusion of state business." A similar document soon after the election stated "return to duty status."

McLeod said Palin's signature on the documents demonstrated a "willingness to forgo her duties as governor" to travel on the national campaign. She added that she filed the complaint now only because she was waiting for a final document from the state in response to a public records request.

McLeod said that given that temporary absence, Palin should have turned over the governor's responsibilities to Parnell as required by the state constitution.

"The reason this is so serious is because the transfer of power should have taken place but did not," McLeod said Tuesday.

Palin's attorney, Thomas Van Flein, called the filing "another meritless complaint." He said Palin continued working regularly as governor even when she left the state on the national campaign.