US elections Palin found guilty over ‘Troopergate’ affair. 11/10/08 13:41 CET

Republicans have given their first reaction to an Alaskan ethics probe which found Sarah Palin guilty of abusing her powers as state governor.

The inquiry shows Palin used her influence to sack a senior state official over a family feud.

But the McCain presidential election campaign team says she acted within her ‘proper and lawful’ authority.

The report found Palin used her powers to sack a senior state commissioner after he refused to fire a state trooper engaged in a bitter divorce and child custody case with Palin’s younger sister.

The findings will come as grim news for John McCain who already trails Democrat rival Barack Obama in the opinion polls.