Investigator: Palin probe to end before election

ANCHORAGE — The Alaska lawmaker in charge of the abuse of power investigation of Sarah Palin promises the probe will be finished before the election, after all.

Alaska state Sen. Hollis French said Friday the investigator’s report on the governor will be completed by Oct. 10, even though key witnesses won’t testify.

None of the people ordered to testify Friday showed up.

The McCain campaign, Palin and her allies have been working to delay the investigation until after the election. They say it’s become a political fight.

Investigators are seeing whether Palin, the Republican vice presidential candidate, improperly fired her public safety commissioner after he wouldn’t fire a state trooper who went through a nasty divorce from Palin’s sister.