The Palin Rape Kit Myth

“Palin’s Town Used to Bill Victims for Rape Kits” was headline on a Thursday USA Today news story.

Reporters Ken Dilanian and Matt Kelley used a 2000 quote from former Wasilla Police Chief to blame Palin for an outdated, now illegal policy she never supported.

“In the past, we’ve charged the cost of exams to victim’s insurance companies when possible,”

former chief Charlie Fannon told the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman in 2000 as then-Democratic Governor Tony Knowles was signing legislation to make local police branches cover the costs of the kits.

“I just don’t want to see any more burden on the taxpayer,” Fannon said at the time, which was reprinted in the USA Today. Fannon went on to say that he believed the criminal should be held responsible for the costs.

USA Today did not reprint those quotes from the interview.

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