ANCHORAGE - Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's husband has refused to testify in the investigation of his wife's alleged abuse of power, and a key lawmaker said yesterday that uncooperative witnesses are effectively sidetracking the probe until after Election Day.

Todd Palin was one of 13 people subpoenaed by the Alaska Legislature and was to appear today and testify as to whether Sarah Palin, now the Republican vice presidential nominee, fired Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan in July because he refused to dismiss a state trooper who had gone through a bitter divorce with Sarah Palin's sister.

Ed O'Callaghan, a spokesman for John McCain's presidential campaign, said yesterday that Todd Palin no longer believes the Legislature's investigation is legitimate.

Sarah Palin at first welcomed the investigation, known as "Troopergate." But since McCain selected her as his running mate, the campaign has raised objections and is now calling it partisan and unfair.

Palin has said she fired Monegan because he wouldn't carry out her budget orders.

But last night on Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes," she also talked about the trooper.

"This trooper tasered my nephew," she said. ". . . It's all there. His threats against the first family, the threat against my dad. All that is in the record. And if the opposition researchers chooses to forget that side of the story, they're not doing their job."

© Copyright 2008 Globe Newspaper Company.