PALIN RESIGNS!

In a stunning move, 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin has announced she is stepping down as governor of Alaska later this month.

"People who know me, know that besides faith and family, nothing is more important to me than our great state of Alaska," Palin said during a press conference earlier today. "Some are going to question the timing of this, but this decision has been under consideration for awhile."

After recounting the accomplishments of her administration, Palin went on.

"Some say I changed on Aug. 29," she said. "I say others changed. I've been accused of all sorts of frivolous ethics complaints. Everything from holding a fish to wearing a jacket with a logo. We've won every one of these ethics complaints, but it hasn't been cheap. We've spent $2 million of your dollars fighting opposition research. Todd and I have spent half a million dollars in legal bills just to set the record straight. My staff and I spend most of our day dealing with this stuff instead of progressing our state. I know I promised no more politics as usual, but no one could have foreseen this. It has all been pretty insane."

Every time Palin would go out of state, she was hit with an ethics complaint from a handful of Palin-haters in Alaska. She said it's difficult to do the job of governor while dealing with the complaints, as well as the vicious personal attacks by the liberal national media -- the Keith Olbermanns, the Bill Mahers, the David Lettermans, the Jon Stewarts ... the list goes on and on.

"Many governors just accept that lame-duck status," Palin said. "They milk it and draw a paycheck. I won't do that. I won't put the state of Alaska through that. It may not be conventional, but it's the right thing to do."

Palin's Brother Chuck Heath Jr. told FOX News that he learned of his sister's resignation the same time everyone else did, when she held a press conference announcing the move this morning. Palin took no questions.

Two months ago, Heath said, his sister told him she was spending up to 80 percent of her time defending herself against personal and professional attacks when she should be spending that time doing the state's business. He said she told him that it isn't fair to Alaskans or to her family. She "clearly" saw that there was no way for her to effectively govern when she is constantly defending herself against her critics.

Heath said his sister has made no mention of whether she plans to run for president in 2012. During her press conference, Palin said she does not plan to seek re-election and will hand over the reigns of the state to Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell on July 26.

Please check back later for further updates as news continues to break on this shocking development.