Has Sarah Palin's husband filed for divorce after 31-year-long marriage?
What's the story
Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's husband, Todd Palin, has reportedly filed for divorce after 31 years of marriage. Todd (55), who was referred to as "Alaska's first dude" after Sarah was elected the Governor in 2006, has cited "incompatibility of temperament" in a document filed in Anchorage Superior Court. The couple had been together since high school, and celebrated their 31st wedding anniversary two weeks ago.
Details
Court filing only identified Todd and Sarah by initials
The divorce filing was first reported by Anchorage blogger and later confirmed by Anchorage Daily News. Reportedly, in the court document, the couple is only identified by their initials, TMP (Todd Mitchell Palin) and SLP (Sarah Louise Palin), their wedding date (August 29, 1988) and the birth date of their minor child, Trig Paxon Van Palin (identified only as TPVP), born April 18, 2008.
Court document
Todd seeks joint custody of Trig; 'equitable division' of debts/assets
Notably, Todd cited an "incompatibility of temperament between the parties such that they find it impossible to live together as husband and wife" in the court filing. The filing seeks joint custody of Trig and an "equitable division" of marital debts and assets. Todd's attorney, Kimberlee Colbo, has also asked the court to designate the divorce confidential.
Information
Family attorney unaware of divorce; Palins yet to comment
Meanwhile, the Palins are yet to comment on reports of a divorce. Additionally, Fairbanks attorney John Tiemesen, who has represented the family in the past, told AP that he was not aware of the divorce filing until he saw the blog post on Monday.
History
Rumors of marital trouble first emerged a decade ago
However, rumors of marital trouble in the Palin home first emerged a decade ago, when the couple shot to fame with Sarah's 2008 Republican vice-presidential campaign. The rumors were dismissed, but controversies failed to elude the family. The Palins' eldest daughter, Bristol, revealed her pregnancy at age 17 on the first day of the 2008 Republican National Convention. Incidentally, McCain-Palin lost the election.
Controversies
Palin family involved in several domestic abuse cases
Furthermore, the family has also been mired by many domestic abuse cases. In 2014, Todd was left with a bloody nose after a drunken brawl broke-out at an Anchorage house party involving family members. Their son Track Palin, an Iraq combat veteran, was arrested thrice between 2016-2018; once for assaulting his then-girlfriend, then for hitting his father, and another time for assaulting an unnamed "female acquaintance."