Alaska's GOP Senate Candidate Joe Miller "Draws A Line In The Sand, "Clammers Up" About "Personal Background".

Miller vows silence on background until election
By SEAN COCKERHAM

Republican Senate nominee Joe Miller said this afternoon that he will not be answering any more questions about his personal background for the remainder of the campaign.

"We've drawn a line in the sand. You can ask me about background, you can ask me about personal issues. I'm not going to answer," Miller said.

Miller made the statement to reporters after today's debate before the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce at the Dena'ina Center. He refused to take any questions and quickly left the building.

Miller said the campaign should be focused on issues and not what he described as personal attacks.

The statement came as new questions were raised about Miller's time as an attorney for the Fairbanks North Star Borough. The Alaska Dispatch used an anonymous source Sunday night saying Miller used borough equipment in the unsuccessful 2008 attempt to oust state Republican Party Chairman Randy Ruedrich. Several Alaska news organizations, including the Daily News, have been asking for borough records about Miller's employment, and the Dispatch filed suit today seeking their release. Miller claimed that "members of the media have gained access to my confidential file, my personnel file from the Fairbanks North Star Borough. It is clear violation of law, the access to that file."

"We are calling upon all responsible members of the media to focus on the issues, the legitimate issues, and not repeat basically the lies and innuendos, not repeat the clear violations of law, but to focus on the issues at hand. Now I'll admit, and I've said this before, I'm a man of flaws, there's no question about it. You know, I wasn't born with a silver spoon, I haven't been born wealthy," he said.

Before making his statement to Alaska news media, Miller answered questions on camera with Fox News Channel's Greta Van Susteren in the back of the Dena'ina Center ballroom where the debate was held.

Miller had initially scheduled a news conference for this morning at his Anchorage campaign headquarters. That was later canceled, and Miller's campaign said he would speak with reporters after the Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

Miller, a Fairbanks attorney backed by the Tea Party Express, has faced scrutiny in recent weeks on a number of fronts involving his personal background, including that his family received low-income medical benefits, low-income hunting and fishing licenses and that his wife drew unemployment benefits. Miller has been critical of such programs at the federal level, saying the nation suffers from an "entitlement mentality" and is on the brink of bankruptcy.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.


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