Oct. 5 (Bloomberg) -- Seven aides of Governor Sarah Palin have agreed to cooperate with an investigation into her firing of the state police chief after unsuccessfully fighting subpoenas to testify in the probe.

The state employees said they will comply with subpoenas issued last month for their statements as part of an investigation by the Alaska Legislature, according to a statement today from the state attorney general's office. The case became one of national importance after Republican presidential nominee John McCain picked Palin as his running mate.

Attorney General Talis Colberg, a Palin appointee, had asked a state judge to block the subpoenas, claiming the state Senate Judiciary Committee that issued them overstepped its bounds. The judge denied Colberg's request Oct. 2, along with a motion by five state Republican lawmakers to halt the investigation.

``Despite my initial concerns about the subpoenas, we respect the court's decision to defer to the Legislature,'' Colberg said in the statement.

The Alaska Supreme Court will consider an appeal by the Republican lawmakers on Oct. 8. They claim the investigation has become tainted by politics and want it halted immediately.

On July 31, the Legislative Council, a bipartisan committee that conducts business when the Legislature isn't in session, began the probe into Palin's July 11 firing of Alaska Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan. The police chief said he was dismissed for refusing to fire state trooper Mike Wooten, who was involved in a divorce and custody battle with Palin's sister.

Palin and her supporters say the legislative probe is politically biased. She is cooperating with a separate investigation conducted by the state Personnel Board.

The Legislative Council has called for the probe to be completed by Oct. 10, less than a month before the presidential election. Republicans on the Judiciary Committee and other lawmakers have sought to have the completion date pushed back until after the election.

The aides are trying to schedule their statements this week before the deadline.

To contact the reporter on this story: Tony Hopfinger in Anchorage at thopfinger@gci.net.

Last Updated: October 5, 2008 21:15 EDT