Levi Johnston Apologizes

While it is wholly debatable whether this is a news item that needs to be covered by serious news outlets, it's also maybe a significant development for the political future of Sarah Palin: Levi Johnston has publicly apologized to the Palins for repeatedly criticizing them since he and their oldest daughter, Bristol, broke up. In a statement to People, Levi also says his previous statements about the Palins were not "completely true.

Bristol issued an adjoined statement, and the apology appears to be coordinated, to a degree:

"Last year, after Bristol and I broke up, I was unhappy and a little angry. Unfortunately, against my better judgment, I publicly said things about the Palins that were not completely true," he tells PEOPLE exclusively. "I have already privately apologized to Todd and Sarah. Since my statements were public, I owe it to the Palins to publicly apologize." 

Bristol added her own statement Tuesday saying, "Part of co-parenting is creating healthy and honest relationships between the parents. Tripp one day needs to know the truth and needs to know that even if a mistake is made the honorable thing to do is to own up to it."

Why is it significant? Because Levi Johnston represented a liability to Sarah Palin. He made repeated claims about her home life, representing her as a genuinely awful and selfish person. Regardless of whatever axe he had to grind, Palin's critics don't think she has any credibility either, and his claims were probably, mostly, believed by the people who don't support her. Even if you think he was lying, his public spat with the Palins added an unwanted bush-league, Jerry-Springer, soap-opera aspect to their private lives, and apparently it's one that Sarah Palin won't have to deal with anymore in her career as a public figure/politician.

Read the full story at People.