ANCHORAGE, Alaska (CNN) -- A former ethics adviser to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin warned in July that firing her public safety commissioner would become a "grave concern" for her administration.

Wevley Shea, a former U.S. attorney and fellow Republican, urged Palin to apologize to former Commissioner Walt Monegan and fire anyone on her staff who discussed her former brother-in-law, state Trooper Mike Wooten, with the commissioner.

"Your 'political advisers' have given you poor counsel; the situation is now grave," Shea wrote in a July 24 letter to the governor. "I recommend the following action 'now' to restore your credibility and Alaska's bright future with you."
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But since she became McCain's running mate, her representatives have attacked the investigation as a "political circus" and argued that it should be conducted by the state Personnel Board.

Lawmakers have scheduled a Friday meeting on whether to subpoena a list of top advisers in their investigation, and the state Personnel Board was to meet Thursday afternoon to discuss Palin's request for a separate probe.

The Legislature's inquiry is scheduled to be completed by October 10. But the state attorney general's office is now warning that the administration is likely to challenge any subpoenas in court.