WASHINGTON – Sarah Palin’s husband on Thursday called a book critical of his family “disgusting lies, innuendo and smears” as the former Alaska governor’s camp sought to discredit a racy biography that includes allegations of infidelity and drug use.

As Sarah Palin weighs a White House bid, her husband released a statement seeking to blunt the fallout from Joe McGinniss’ “The Rogue: Searching for the Real Sarah Palin.” Palin allies also released another denial from the man alleged to have carried on an affair with Sarah Palin.

“This is a man who has been relentlessly stalking my family to the point of moving in right next door to us to harass us and spy on us to satisfy his creepy obsession with my wife,” Todd Palin wrote of McGinniss.

The Republicans’ 2008 vice presidential nominee and former governor of Alaska made no new reference on her Facebook account to McGinniss’ book, although Sarah Palin previously mocked McGinniss for moving into a rented house next door to the Palin home.

“We’re sure to have a doozey to look forward to with this treasure he’s penning,” Sarah Palin wrote last year. “Wonder what kind of material he’ll gather while overlooking Piper’s bedroom, my little garden and the family’s swimming hole?”

McGinniss’ book also repeats allegations first published in The National Enquirer that Sarah Palin carried on an affair with Brad Hanson, Todd Palin’s former business partner.

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In a statement released through Palin allies, Hanson again denied the allegation.

Appearing on NBC’s “Today Show,” McGinniss defended his reporting.

“I think I was as fair as I could possibly have been given the fact that she told all the people who were closest to her not to talk to me,” he said.

Paisley’s book tells of early guitar influences

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Country superstar Brad Paisley is set to release his first book on Nov. 1.

It’s called “Diary of a Player” and shows how the guitar gods of country, blues and rock ‘n’ roll have shaped his life.

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Paisley tells The Associated Press he can’t imagine his life if he never learned to play the guitar. His grandfather gave him his first six-string at age 8.

Paisley is the reigning Country Music Association entertainer of the year. He has sold over 11 million albums and charted 20 No. 1 singles

The book is co-written with Rolling Stone contributing editor David Wild.

O’Neal probation revoked

LOS ANGELES – Redmond O’Neal, the troubled son of actor Ryan O’Neal and the late actress Farrah Fawcett, had his probation revoked and was taken into custody Thursday after admitting he had used methamphetamine at a live-in drug rehabilitation facility, authorities said.

After pleading no contest Aug. 24 to two felony counts, including heroin and firearms possession, O’Neal was placed on five years’ probation, sentenced to a year at a live-in drug facility and had a three-year state prison sentence suspended as long as he did not violate the court’s terms.

On Thursday, O’Neal admitted to a judge that he had used the drug during his rehabilitation stint.

He returns Oct. 7 for sentencing.


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