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Sarah Palin's Emails: What You Need To Know Before Reading

What You Need To Know Before Reading Sarah Palin's Emails
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Director of Trends and Social Media, The Huffington Post

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Many are wondering just what Sarah Palin said in the emails sent and received by the former governor being released on Friday, but there is a chance the dispatch won't produce any groundbreaking revelations.

Nevertheless, the documents could provide offer insight into many of the controversies surrounding Palin, and her time in office. However, while the vast majority of the emails are being released, there are a number that won't be disclosed to the public.

From the AP:

Another 2,275 pages are being withheld for reasons including attorney-client, work product or executive privilege; an additional 140 pages were deemed to be "non-records," or unrelated to state business.

The emails cover the first two years of Palin's time as governor. The request, filed under the Freedom of Information Act will contain 24,199 pages of files. Due to complications, they are first being released as hard copies that will be scoured for days to come.

Many organizations are putting the documents online, and giving you the power to help decipher them. Once released, you'll be able to see them for yourself here.

Here's what you need to know before you dive into the emails on your own:

Time Period: December 2006 - September 2008(01 of07)
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Because requests for the emails were filed around the time Palin was tapped to be then-presidential candidate John McCain's running mate, the documents will only go up to about September of the election year. This means the public won't see emails sent and received after that period, including during the actual election and just prior to the former governor's resignation from office in July 2009. (credit:Getty)
Todd's Role And Emails(02 of07)
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The request also covers Todd Palin's emails, which may or may not contain useful information. However, previous emails of Todd's have been released, painting a picture of a particularly powerful "first dude" according to MSNBC. These new emails may further detail the role he played during her time as governor. (credit:AP)
The VP Vetting Process(03 of07)
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Because the emails come from Palin's first two years as governor, they should encompass the vice presidential vetting process, and the events that led to her becoming John McCain's running mate in 2008. What they reveal, if anything at all, remains to be seen. (credit:AP)
Bridge To Nowhere(04 of07)
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The controversial "Bridge To Nowhere," a $398 million project that was designed to build a bridge to Gravina Island, a relatively sparsely populated area, made national headlines during the 2008 election. Emails about the matter could detail Palin's role in attempting to obtain financing for the project, and as well as her potential motives for seeking funding. The bridge would have been taller than the Brooklyn Bridge and almost as long as the Golden Gate, according to USA Today. (credit:MediaWiki)
Troopergate(05 of07)
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Affectionately known as "Troopergate," the Alaska Public Safety Commissioner dismissal during Palin's time in office resulted in significant scrutiny on Palin's involvement in the matter. In October 2008, the Alaska Legislative Board found that Palin had violated the ethics law covering state executive employees, but a month after that, the Alaska State Personnel Board said she did not violate any ethics laws. (credit:AP)
Private Emails(06 of07)
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The cache of new information doesn't only include emails to Palin's state email address, but also includes emails on her private account she sent during her time in office. According to the AP, Palin handed over a CD containing the files after the request was made.
Palin's Role In Business(07 of07)
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Previous records have shown that the then-governor and her husband on at least one occasion tried to advance a natural gas pipeline, according to the AP, but new emails may shed more light on how involved they were in the private sector. (credit:Getty)

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