We’ve just gotten our hands on the so-called “banned list” that was responsible for two journalists getting booted from a Sarah Palin book event in Wasilla last week. Check it out right here.
And we’ve got new details that shed light on Todd Palin’s role as his wife’s chief enforcer.
The “coordinating instructions” document, whose authenticity was confirmed by James Hastings, the Wasilla official who runs the arena and who wrote the instructions, refers to a “DENIED ACCESS LIST PER TODD PALIN.” And, after listing three names, continues:
“Coordination with Todd will be required to identify those folks in the event they present themselves NOT as media reps. They are not welcome by the family and this is a private rental of the facility with a public invite and access limited list provided by renters.”
The day before the book signing-cum-homecoming party, Todd Palin arrived at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center “to look at the facility and go over the floor plan and give instructions to me,” Hastings tells TPMmuckraker.
“Todd told me that a couple of individuals said they were going to come out there, and he expected them to protest,” Hastings says. “He said, ‘Hey, there’s a guy named Griffin who will be with Zaki, and they’re going to try to stir up the pot.'”
That would be Dennis Zaki, photojournalist and freelance videographer, and Jesse Griffin, a blogger whose name was added to a later version of the list than the one we posted.
Griffin and Zaki described to us last week how, when they arrived to shoot some video and talk to the large crowd of Palin supporters, they were ejected after having their pictures taken at the media check in window. A Wasilla police officer escorted Griffin out with a hand on his shoulder.
Todd Palin’s actions are very much in keeping with his past role as his wife’s “most loyal protector.” When Sarah was governor, Todd was investigated for pressuring state officials to fire Sarah Palin’s ex-brother-in-law. That was the Troopergate scandal.
The “denied access list” contains three names that were given to Hastings the day before event by Todd Palin, with photos attached that Hastings found through a Google search: Dennis Zaki, photojournalist and freelance videographer; Shannyn Moore, an Alaska radio host and longtime Palin critic; and Andree McLeod, a woman who has filed multiple ethics complaints against Palin.
A fourth name, blogger Jesse Griffin, was added to the list the day of the event
A spokeswoman for Palin has not responded to a request for comment.
