In a press release, Palin said she accepted Colberg's resignation Tuesday. Deputy Attorney General for the Criminal Division Rick Svobodny has been named acting attorney general.
"I determined that it was in the best interest of the state of Alaska to move on and pursue other opportunities," Colberg said in a statement Tuesday. "It was an honor to serve for the past two years."
Colberg came under fire recently when the state House Judiciary Committee questioned him over his handling of the Troopergate probe - that tawdry affair involving allegations that the governor and/or her staff tried to get her ex-brother-in-law fired from the state troopers. While Palin was running for vice president last fall, Colberg tried to block subpoenas issued to nine state employees and the governor's husband, part of a legislative investigation to determine whether Palin or those close to her had broken any ethics rules.
In a resolution passed Friday by the Alaska Senate, the 10 witnesses, including Todd Palin, were found in contempt for failing to comply with the subpoenas. In effect, the resolution was a public indictment on Colberg's handling of the Troopergate investigation.
On Tuesday, Bill McAllister, a Palin spokesman, said in an email that it was Colberg's decision to resign. "You would have to ask Mr. Colberg about the reasons for his decision," McAllister said. Colberg could not be reached immediately for comment.
McAllister said that he was not sure if the governor had any advance notice before Colberg tendered his resignation Monday.
In the press release Tuesday, Palin said: "Talis is a highly intelligent, thoughtful and reserved scholar who brought considerable legal knowledge and great personal integrity to the position.
"I appreciate his willingness to serve and as the search for a new attorney general begins, I will look for someone with the same strong moral character as Talis. I wish him well in his future endeavors."