Sarah Palin's husband refuses to testify in Troopergate case

Todd Palin had been subpoenaed to appear today before an Alaskan court to testify whether a public safety commissioner was fired because he refused to dismiss a state trooper who had gone through a bitter divorce with Mrs Palin's sister.

A spokesman for Mrs Palin said the Governor's husband no longer believed the investigation was legitimate.

Troopergate scandal: Sarah Palin is accused of trying to get her ex-brother-in-law Mike Wooten (left) fired from his police job

Mrs Palin, who at first welcomed the investigation, opposes it now that she is the Republican candidate for Vice-President.

Public safety commissioner Walt Monegan had previously refused to fire Mrs Palin's estranged former brother-in-law, state trooper Michael Wooten.

Mr Wooten had allegedly threatened to shoot the Governor's father during a nasty child custody battle with her sister.

Todd Palin says he no longer believes the probe is legitimate

Mr Moneghan said he was put under pressure to sack the state trooper by Todd Palin and a senior aide.

However, Mrs Palin said that Mr Monegan was removed for failing to fill vacancies and welcomed a public examination of her actions.

An internal trooper investigation had found Mr Wooten guilty of several infractions - using a Taser stun gun on his stepson, drinking on duty, threatening his then father-in-law and shooting a moose without a permit, the Anchorage Daily News reported.

Those events took place when Mrs Palin was mayor of Wasilla, a town of about 7,000 people.

Many have predicted that John McCain's White House hopes could be shaped by the outcome of Alaska's 'Troopergate', as the controversy is known.

But any stonewalling by witnesses is likely to stall the investigation until after America's election day in November.