The report, released on Monday, said: 'There is no probable cause to believe that the governor, or any other state official, violated the Alaska Executive Ethics Act in connection with these matters.'

It was prepared by Mr Timothy Petumenos, an independent counsel for the Alaska Personnel Board.

A separate legislative investigation recently concluded that Mrs Palin, the Republican vice-presidential nominee, abused her office by allowing her husband and staffers to pressure the public safety commissioner to fire a state trooper who went through a nasty divorce from Mrs Palin's sister.

Mrs Palin fired Mr Walter Monegan, but denies his dismissal was related to the trooper.

Alaska Personnel Board investigations are normally secret, but the three-member board decided to release this report, citing public interest in the matter given Mrs Palin's status as a candidate for national office.

Tuesday is Election Day

Mrs Palin had earlier waived her privacy rights, but others in her administration did not and Mr Petumenos sought to keep the matter from playing out in the media.

Mr Petumenos said documents to be released on Monday would not include transcripts of separate depositions given by Mrs Palin and her husband, Todd.

That deposition was the only one given by Mrs Sarah Palin. She was not subpoenaed to answer questions in the Legislature's investigation, though her husband, Todd, gave an affidavit in that probe.

Mrs Palin initially said she would cooperate with the Legislature's probe. But after she became Mr John McCain's running mate, she said the investigation had become too partisan and filed an ethics grievance against herself with the personnel board.

Telephone messages left with state Senator Hollis French, who led the legislative investigation, and Senator Kim Elton, chairman of the Legislative Council, were not immediately returned. -- AP