(9-20-04). Palin explains her actions in Ruedrich case. . "Ruedrich's computer contained 24 e-mail exchanges between him and Evergreen officials and lobbyists. One is well-known because it was the basis for one of the charges in the ethics complaint: Ruedrich leaked a confidential AOGCC legal memorandum to lobbyist-lawyer Kyle Parker that had been written by the assistant attorney general assigned to the agency, Rob Mintz. But the range of electronic conversation is much more extensive. In March, Ruedrich had frequent contact with Parker and others in his law firm as they worked behind the scenes on legislation that weakened local control over coal bed methane development. Sometimes the messages were just pleasantries, such as Parker's reminder to Ruedrich on Sept. 29, 2003, that they would see each other at a town hall meeting on coal bed methane in Sutton the next evening and have dinner together the day after that. In at least eight instances, Ruedrich forwarded messages to Parker that he received or sent to state officials and Valley residents. Because they were blind copies or copies made after the original message was sent, the other parties had no way of knowing that the lobbyist was receiving them. In his private messages to Parker, Ruedrich didn't try to hide his disdain for Sen. Scott Ogan, a fellow Republican from the Palmer area, who has taken credit for the legislation establishing the coal bed methane industry in Alaska and who, for a time, was on Evergreen's payroll as a $40,000-a-year consultant. Ogan quit the consultant job Sept. 30, 2003, under pressure and quit the Legislature last month in the face of a recall election. On Aug. 27, 2003, Ruedrich forwarded to Parker from his work computer an e-mail he had earlier sent from home to Jim Clark and Dennis Fradley, Murkowski's communications director at the time. In his message, Ruedrich runs through a series of "myths" about coal bed methane, such as the risk to water contamination, and dismisses most as wrong. . . ."
