A bipartisan legislative ethics committee investigating Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin says that she unlawfully abused her position in the firing of the state's public safety commissioner.
The investigative report said that a family grudge was a contributing factor for firing former public safety commissioner Walter Monegan.
Monegan says he was fired as revenge for refusing to dismiss a state trooper who was undergoing a bitter divorce with Palin's sister.
"I feel vindicated," Monegan told reporters.
"It sounds like they've validated my belief and opinions. And that tells me I'm not totally out in left field."
Chief Investigator Stephen Branchflower found Palin to be in violation of a state ethics law prohibits public officials for using their office for personal gain.
"Governor Palin knowingly permitted a situation to continue where impermissible pressure was placed on several subordinates in order to advance a personal agenda, to wit: To get Trooper Michael Wooten fired," the report said, which was released in part in Anchorage Friday evening.
Branchflower said Palin violated a statute of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act.
The Republican vice presidential nominee's supporters have questioned the timing of the report and call it politically motivated.
The governor says that Monegan was released for a legitimate dispute.
At a campaign stop in Ohio Thursday, Palin defended the firing.
"It's a governor's right and responsibility to make sure that they have the right people in the right place at the right time to best serve the people who hired them, and for me, the people of Alaska, so my cabinet's got to be the right cabinet for the people of Alaska," she said.
The nearly 300-page report did not recommend a criminal investigation or sanctions.
With files from The Associated Press
