Did Wasilla Building Scandal Bring Palin Down?

This came out last October when Sarah Palin’s coming out party was in full swing, but was barely paid attention to. However, now there are whispers that federal indictments are pending approval and that’s the real reason we saw the sudden resignation yesterday.

From Donklephant:

Spenard Building Supplies (SBS) was awarded the $13 million contract that created a long-term debt obligation for Wasilla. SBS is the largest building supply company in Alaska.

At the same time, the Palin’s built a 3,500 sq. ft., two-story home on the shores of Lake Lucille. Todd Palin said that he built the home with the help of “buddies.” It is reported that the material used for the construction of the home appears to be the same as that used in the Wasilla Sports Complex, including the windows and the wood. SBS supplied the material for the Palin home.

SBS filed a contractor’s lien on the property for labor and materials, stating that the Palin home and sports complex had the “same windows, same wood, same products.” That leads to speculation that excess material from the sports complex was transferred from SBS to the Palin home in a quid pro quo arrangement.

At the time of the Palin house building, Palin blocked a new requirement involving the public filing of building permits in Wasilla. This act successfully kept many of the details of the Palin home secret until now.

Now, let’s look at this closely.

First, there’s no way SBS would have filed a lien of the Palin’s property and risk embarrassing the politician who hired them in the first place if they didn’t feel that their materials were heisted. Because that’s basically what they’re saying “You stole this stuff from us and we want you to pay for it.”

Second, in a town as small as Wasilla, why would she block a law that made building permits more transparently public? They have like 9,000 people living there. What’s to hide?

Third, here’s Palin’s house…

And here’s the Wasilla sport’s complex…

Those windows do look similar, although it’s tough to tell for sure until we get some close snaps.

So, if true, this would fly in the face of the “reform” Palin promised to bring to Alaska. Not only that, her claims yesterday of resigning because being a “lame duck” would waste taxpayer’s money would be revealed to be one of the most self serving lies in recent political history.

Here’s the question: If all of this is true, is Palin done both politically and professionally?

(Photos: (1) AP via Daylife; (2) Palingates; (3) Politico)

UPDATE:

Here’s another picture of the Wasilla Sports Complex right after construction (via ADN.com)

Take a look at those rectangular windows right above the doors. Now look at the windows at the very top of Palin’s house. Very similar.

Also, not that many of the windows at the Palin’s house look as if there’s a way to open them. That’s a bit unconventional for home construction, but very normal for public buildings.

As mentioned above, we’ll just have to wait and see how this plays out.