Signed, Sealed, Delivered

Um, it might not mean anything (sure, it doesn't), but Todd Palin's former business partner, Scott Richter, has filed an emergency motion to have his divorce papers sealed. That whole Enquirer, She Had An Affair, lawsuit thing is looking a little tenuous.

This may get convoluted and very little of it is backed up by the sources, but bear with me. From what I can gather from various and sundry bits of inuendo across the net, Sarah and Scott Richter were a thing before Todd and Sarah got married. The Palins owned real estate in partnership with Scott and Debbie Richter. When Sarah ran for Governor, Debbie was the campaign treasurer. After the election both Debbie and Scott were given positions in the new administration. This is where it gets complicated.

John Bitney, another old friend of Sarah's from Wasilla who campaigned for her was also given a position in the new administration. According to Andrew Halcro, Bitney and Debbie Richter began an affair. The Richters were estranged before the affair began. When Todd discovered the relationship between Bitney and Debbie Richter he pushed to have Bitney fired because Scott Richter was his best friend and that's what best friends do... I guess. Eventually Bitney was dismissed, though the details have been difficult to determine as the emails concerning his firing have been stamped with "executive privilege."

Todd subsequently ended his business relationship with Richter as well as his friendship according to the Enquirer's sources. They are hinting that as Todd worked against Bitney for having an affair with Debbie Richter, Sarah was having an affair with Scott.

Let me say once again this is tabloid (meaning it's all questionable) and shouldn't really have any bearing on a person's ability to serve (despite the right's attacks on Clinton's philanderings). What DOES have bearing is the firing of an employee and the subsequent attempts to bury the reasoning under the guise of executive privilege. Sadly for the Palins (and the Richters), this is news.

It should be pointed out that there could be any number of legitimate reasons for the Richters (one or both) to want the divorce records sealed that would have nothing whatsoever to do with affairs, real or imagined. Who would want their personal lives involved in a campaign in which they are not participating? That said, the court apparently did not find the reasons compelling as the motion was denied.

Update here