Palin’s official Alaska emails to be released

The state of Alaska is expected Friday to release more than 24,000 pages of emails from Sarah Palin during her tenure as governor, almost three years after the documents were requested by news organizations and local activists.

The emails were originally sought to shed light on the then-little-known running mate of 2008 Republican presidential nominee John McCain. Their release comes at a very different time: as Palin, who enjoys near-universal name recognition, is contemplating a White House bid of her own.

The documents will be made available in Juneau, the state capital, in paper form. The Los Angeles Times will scan them and post them online, making each available in a searchable archive.

Readers will have the ability to submit comments and suggestions on a Web page, or by emailing The Times at documents@latimes.com.

The emails span from the beginning of Palin’s governorship in December 2006 through Sept. 30, 2008, when media outlets originally asked for the materials. Palin remained in office until July 2009, when she abruptly quit with 18 months left in her term, citing costly challenges from critics and, because she was not planning to run for reelection, her lame-duck status.

The state redacted more than 2,200 pages worth of materials, citing exemptions to public records laws including the privacy provision of the Alaska Constitution, attorney-client privilege, work product privilege, and executive and deliberative process privileges.

Alaska officials said the large number of messages and technical limitations of the state’s email system caused delays in finding and reviewing the appropriate materials.

One complicating factor: Along with her official state email account, Palin used two personal Yahoo accounts to conduct state business. Included in the release are emails from her personal accounts if they were sent from or received by official state accounts.

The Los Angeles Times/Tribune Washington Bureau submitted a public records request this spring for all emails Palin sent or received during her tenure as governor. The state has yet to say when it will provide Palin’s later emails.

matea.gold@latimes.com