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Senate Majority Joseph Bruno's and Governor Eliot Spitzer's epic Choppergate fight grows each and every day. Yesterday, Bruno demanded that investigations be opened to focus on Spitzer's administration and whether Spitzer staffers were engaged in trying to sabotage him. Bruno said, "A lot of people in authority think there was criminality in the executive branch... I want to know how much the governor knew ... This is not going to go away, not going to get swept under a rug."
However, Spitzer's office was quick to offer this statement: "Any new Senate hearings on this same issue would be a complete waste of state taxpayer dollars for purely partisan and political purposes. Moreover, the state Senate lacks the constitutional authority to conduct investigatory hearings into the internal operations of the governor's office." Assembly Leader Sheldon Silver told the Sun he didn't think there was a need for a hearing, "We heard from the top law enforcement officer in the state, Andrew Cuomo. A lot of misjudgments were made, but there was no criminality."
Spitzer spoke to the Daily News' editorial board yesterday and explained that Bruno's fondness for state aircraft was legend:
"[Bruno] said, 'You know one of the things that Gov. Pataki did was take away the copter from me.' I said, 'Joe, I'm not going to do that... I assume there are rules and regulations that determine when and how it is used. I am not going to say I am taking my toys. They are not my toys."Spitzer continued to deny that he had any knowledge of his aides using the State Police to keep records of Bruno's travel and that he didn't realize his aides refused to answer the Attorney General's questions. In fact, in an chat with the Times Union's editorial board, Spitzer said he was "consumed, literally, 18 hours a day, negotiating congestion pricing and campaign finance reform."After he took office Jan. 1, Spitzer said, Bruno's requests for use of the aircraft became almost a punch line.
"A couple of people would just roll their eyes and say you know, '[Bruno's] using it again?' because there was a sense that there was ambiguity about whether he was using it for a government purpose," he said.
Still, the fact that the Attorney General found that top Spitzer aides were working to discredit Bruno by releasing State Police information to the media has, in a way, burnished Bruno's image at the moment. In fact, the NY Times describes that Bruno was in great spirits, at Saratoga's horse racing opening day festivities, and that he "floated through the crowd like a pasha down the Nile." But at the end of the day, the only one smelling like a rose seems to be AG Andrew Cuomo (even a Republican strategist thinks so!).
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Oh Snap! Did Gov. Spitzer just claim "Executive Privlidge"??Spitzer's looking like just another arrogant rich boy. Now he's rolling around in the Albany muck, slimy as anyone. Meet the new boss.....
Can't they just have a duel at dawn?
We need term limits for state-wide office, as well as a slashing of the pork/bullshit called public benefit corporations. Between the "lifer" assembly and senate folk, and the out of control authorities/development corps (of which there isn't even an accurate count!) this state is going to continue its spiral down the toilet.
Bruno represents Troy -- just a little up and across the river from Albany, or 10 minutes on those spacious highways up there. Why does he ever "need" to use state aircraft???
I read the Attorney General’s full report and noticed that the last 7 pages center only on how loose & porous the NY State regulations are regarding use (personal-Business) of State Aircraft and comparing NY’s rules to other to other States.
http://hosted.ap.org/specials/interactives/_documents/a ircraft_report.pdf
That tells me there’s a serious Policy problem that’s being overlooked and needs to be addressed and maybe there’s a lot more going on than we see.
Has anyone even considered that the Governor’s Aides might have actually been doing their Job and protecting the interests of New Yorkers ?
If they were actually plotting against Sen Bruno or doing anything illegal ..don’t you think they would have covered their “tracks” a little better ?
They left a trail of Emails and a direct connection with the State Police proving where the information came from …it sounds like they were actually investigating Senator Bruno (with good reason)and never considered that somehow, someone would twist what they were doing into some sort of a Conspiracy.
Ok , so Bruno was the only one they asked for travel records on –Maybe Spitzer is trying to clean up Albany and was starting with Bruno …
The State Police were not asked to “fabricate” or falsify any documents ..only to put the info (from memory if need be) on an Official State Police letterhead/report.
As far as leaking it to the Press ? …I don’t blame them . What better way is there of putting a “fire” under an issue these days than involving the Public ? Do you think a quiet internal investigation of Watergate would have yielded the same results ?
I’d like to see Albany cleaned up ..but I have a feeling that after this , it’s not going to happen. Who would want to chance investigating any Politician in the near future and take this risk ?
Isn't the FBI still investigating Bruno for something or , did they drop the case now so they won’t also be blamed for trying to ruin his reputation ?
I’m not questioning Senator Bruno’s reputation here but since he has nothing to hide , I’d think he would have welcomed any investigation that would prove he’s done nothing wrong.
I'd have more respect for Bruno if he wasn't playing the role of a Victim to the hilt and now demanding answers and what looks like revenge.
Maybe there’s another side to this story and Bruno's not the "victim".
"what looks like revenge". Irony anyone?
edit: "in an chat with the Times Union..."
#6
You don't blame them for leaking it to the press?
That alone makes it clear that their objective was not doing the right thing w/r/t the use/abuse of state aircraft, they were trying to take down Bruno politically, without an official investigation. It's not like they went to the AG, whose job it would have been to investigate such abuse, they went directly to the state police. It was not the job of these guys do make this investigation, they are political players, not investigators.
You make the mistake of thinking that Spitzer was acting as a watchdog here. Spitzer, or at least his staff, was(were) acting as an attack dog(s) here (we have yet to know Spitzer's own role, because his aides stonewalled the AG).
Spitzer's comeuppance is richly deserved on this one.
Bruno’s use of State Aircraft was an issue way before Spitzer even took office.
Maybe Bruno’s not the “Victim” here and the Aides had good reason to ask for the records.
Read this –
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/07/26/2007-07-26_p lane_and_simple_i_didnt_know-2.html
If Spitzer's Office was never involved in any investigations ..why would they have their own inspector general, Kristine Hamann, who had also conducted an investigation parallel to that of Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.
I don't understand
There's a new sheriff in town and
his name is reggie hammond.
Bruno's going down. Personal use, pay up.
not personal? prove it, audit time.
If Spitzer's office never did any investigations , why would they have their own inspector general, Kristine Hamann, who had also conducted an investigation parallel to that of Attorney General Cuomo ?
I don't understand
HERE'S THE ARTICLE SINCE THE LINK I POSTED DOESN'T WORK ----
Plane and simple: I didn't know
Spitzer: Wouldn't deny Bruno a state aircraft, and wasn't in on dirty tricks
BY CELESTE KATZ
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Thursday, July 26th 2007, 4:00 AM
-------------------------------------------------Gov. Spitzer told the Daily News Editorial Board that he did not instruct anyone in his administration to 'go out and gather' information damaging to state Senate Republican leader Joe Bruno.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eliot Spitzer acknowledges Joe Bruno's use of state aircraft was on his radar even before he became governor.
"He raised it, not I," Spitzer told the Daily News Editorial Board yesterday. It was during a private hotel-room chat between Senate GOP leader Bruno and Democratic candidate Spitzer before the funeral of Court of Appeals Chief Judge Judith Kaye's husband last year.
"[Bruno] said, 'You know one of the things that Gov. Pataki did was take away the copter from me.' I said, 'Joe, I'm not going to do that... I assume there are rules and regulations that determine when and how it is used. I am not going to say I am taking my toys. They are not my toys."
After he took office Jan. 1, Spitzer said, Bruno's requests for use of the aircraft became almost a punch line.
"A couple of people would just roll their eyes and say you know, '[Bruno's] using it again?' because there was a sense that there was ambiguity about whether he was using it for a government purpose," he said.
But Spitzer insisted he had nothing to do with the dirty tricks scheme by his now-suspended communications director, Darren Dopp, and homeland security adviser Bill Howard to plant a newspaper story, using information collected by the state police, suggesting Bruno used the aircraft improperly
"I never said to anybody, 'Go out and gather this information - here's what we're looking for and here's how to do it,'" Spitzer said. "It did not happen."
Wrapped up in other work as the state Legislature neared the end of its regular session in June, Spitzer said he remembered hearing about media inquiries about the use of state planes and helicopters, but didn't pay much attention.
When asked who told him about such an inquiry, Spitzer said, "I have not the foggiest idea because it is immaterial to me. It was not quite, 'Who cares?" but basically, 'Who cares?'"
Bruno and his Republican allies have voiced skepticism that Spitzer, whom they call a micro-manager, could have been so out of the loop about what Dopp and Howard cooked up.
Spitzer said he was indeed unaware. He said that after the newspaper story came out, Dopp didn't even get his approval before announcing the governor's office was calling for an investigation of Bruno. "I don't think I had anything to do with it," he said.
He didn't learn what Dopp, Howard and the state police had done until last Thursday, when he was briefed by his inspector general, Kristine Hamann, who had conducted an investigation parallel to that of Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.
Bruno spokesman John McArdle confirmed that the senator and Spitzer discussed the planes last year, but not solely in the context of how Pataki controlled them.
Bruno had "a personal family situation" that required him to get back home quickly while traveling on state business, McArdle said.
Spitzer also said he didn't know until Sunday - the day the Cuomo report came out - that Dopp and his chief of staff, Rich Baum, declined to answer questions from the attorney general's investigators.
"It was up to Andrew (Cuomo) to determine how he wants to run the investigation. I think he asked them very, very late and they then said 'Here's a sworn statement," and he said 'Fine.'"
Last night, Spitzer's spokeswoman, Christine Anderson, said the governor "misspoke" in leaving the impression he spoke to Cuomo about it, when he did not.
Another part of Spitzer's account was contradicted last night by Cuomo spokesman Jeff Lerner."We told the governor's counsel's office we wanted to interview Dopp and Baum. The governor's counsel's office declined and instead sent sworn written statements,"Lerner said.
Spitzer, asked at a Westchester sports event last night if it would have looked better if the pair answered questions, said, "I'm not going to in any way second-guess Andrew Cuomo, who ran the investigation."
The governor said he had already gone the extra mile in cooperating with investigators. E-mails and other witnesses were provided "voluntarily because they [Cuomo's office] have no right to get it," Spitzer said.
Since I can't stand Bruno, I hope he keeps overplaying his hand on this. Spitzer looks bad, no doubt, even if he had nothing to do with it. They're his people.
Bruno ranting and raving "This is not going to go away, not going to get swept under a rug..." will do nothing but help to show what a jackass he is to more people.
Turn that lemonade into lemons Joe.
"LEAKING TO THE PRESS" Like it or not -That's how things are done and get results. Our Government is fueled and guided by Paranoia these days
Someone in Bruno's "camp" just did it themselves.
check this out --
http://www.wnbc.com/politics/13762873/detail.html
"ALBANY, N.Y. -- The state Ethics Commission will investigate the scandal in which top aides to Gov. Eliot Spitzer used state police in a plot to discredit Republican Senate leader Joseph Bruno, according to a letter obtained by The Associated Press.
The letter dated Thursday says the state Ethics Commission, which has subpoena power, will investigate the case that has dominated the Albany agenda since an investigative report was released Monday by state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.
The letter was provided by a state official on the condition of anonymity because the investigation hadn't been officially announced. When told of the letter, state Ethics Commission spokesman Walter Ayres confirmed it came from the investigative agency."
--------------------------------------------
The more that comes out ..the more it's looking like those Aides were doing their job and protecting New Yorkers interests.
There are procedures and rules by which these aides could have looked out for New York's interest, if that's what they were doing. Instead of following official channels, they (Howard and Dopp) took this upon themselves and used state resources for their own political ends. Say what you want about Joe Bruno's abuse of state aircraft, that's far less insidious than using the police power to take down a political rival. This is just as bad as if President Bush used the FBI to dig dirt on Harry Reid.
If Spitzer gets away with this, who's next to get tailed by the state police?
These guys were looking out for Eliot Spitzer's interest, not our State's.
I'm starting to think it's about the "spin" the media's been putting on it. The fact that the State Police were involved might be freaking people out as if "Gestapo" tactics were being used here. The Aides didn't have "Secret State Agents" watching Bruno's home as he slept ..he wasn't being followed and his phones were not tapped. If some other NY State Agency provided the "transportation" to Bruno and had those records (use of State Aircraft) instead of the State Police , maybe the facts would be in the limelight here and not the agency that maintained the records.
The Superintendant of the State Police personally put together a dossier on Bruno's travel. This wasn't like the Governor's office just called up and asked for the records. The Superintendant actually created records for the explicit purpose of attacking Bruno in the media, while the Governor's office used the pretense that this was for a FOIL request.
I'm not a fan of either Bruno or Spitzer, but that's dirty politics and straight out of Spitzer's playbook.
I’m starting to think it’s about the “spin” the media’s been putting on it. The fact that the State Police were involved might be freaking people out as if “Gestapo” tactics were being used here. You have to get it straight --The Aides didn’t have “Secret State Agents” watching Bruno’s home as he slept ..he wasn’t being followed and his phones were not tapped. If some other NY State Agency had provided the “transportation” (& security)to Bruno and had maintained those records (use of State Aircraft) instead of the State Police , maybe the facts would be in the limelight here and it wouldn’t matter who maintained the records.
"that's far less insidious than using the police power to take down a political rival"
--How did they use Police Power ? They simply wanted the records they didn't order Police surveilance on Bruno.
"This is just as bad as if President Bush used the FBI to dig dirt on Harry Reid."
--The Aides went to the State Police who had Officers WITH Bruno on the trips and had some of their own records..they didn't have to interrogate witnesses or "dig dirt" or fabricate any false testimony.
"If Spitzer gets away with this, who's next to get tailed by the state police?"
--That's it , no more TV for you :)
Sorry but , I'm not sure what's going on here ...I didn't post #18 twice ..and it came up again in #20 ??
Look at how long of a delay between the duplicate post.
"The Superintendant actually created records for the explicit purpose of attacking Bruno in the media, while the Governor's office used the pretense that this was for a FOIL request."
Yes , That who the Governor's Office would normally deal with , the Superintendant ..not an underling.
As I mentioned before ,The State Police were never asked to “fabricate” or falsify any documents ..only to put the info (from memory if need be) on an Official State Police letterhead/report since "hand written" notes wouldn't make much of a presentation.
The Aides wanted the facts . not a fabricated story.
And if the Superintendant had "created" any false or misleading or inaccurate reports , I'm sure he would have been arrested last Monday.
Bruno's being a bitch about this ! He's determined to make an example of Spitzer by running him through the ringer . It's like having dirt on someone and "Kicking them in the nuts " .......Repeatedly ! Posted by; "Still Not Amused"
"As I mentioned before ,The State Police were never asked to “fabricate” or falsify any documents ..only to put the info (from memory if need be) on an Official State Police letterhead/report since "hand written" notes wouldn't make much of a presentation.
The Aides wanted the facts . not a fabricated story."
Except we don't know that-BECAUSE there hasn't been a complete inquiry! In fact-the Governor's office has been stonewalling, by not having the aides get questioned in the first place.
"And if the Superintendant had "created" any false or misleading or inaccurate reports , I'm sure he would have been arrested last Monday. "
Well-if we knew the facts-then perhaps, but we haven't gotten them all. It's cool that we have people like yourself obscuring the truth however.
I didn't write post #24. Too bad they didn't have a way to track "Guest #1 or #2 " etc.
-me
"Well-if we knew the facts-then perhaps, but we haven't gotten them all. It's cool that we have people like yourself obscuring the truth however."
No , I'm not playing a game here and I'm certainly not interested in "obscuring the Truth" or trying to confuse any facts.
It upsets me when I see words like "created" , "abused" , "conspired" tossed around in editorials giving the reader the impression that the Bruno records were "created" and totally false.
Also , I can understand why they'd do an internal investigation before involving the AG or IG. If it was my Office ...I'd want to know if there was any basis to my "concerns" first and would NOT involve an outside agency and risk tipping my hand . Besides , in the Albany Rat Nest that feeds on gossip, who do you trust?
There's a Public "Blood Lust" going on here and , I'm afraid the only thing that might save the Governors Office from more damage would be if the FBI released their investigation on Bruno and showed that he's not squeeky clean .
That would shift the Public's attention and change "Troopergate" to "Brunogate"
joe bruno is as corrupt and full of it as they come. its amazing how y'all have bought his line of BS about being a poor little boy fighting against big rich elliot spitzer! maybe that's how the two started off life, but bruno spends all his time crafting policies to help rich people become more rich, and to prevent people from knowing how or why its happening.
i mean, who on earth thinks of bruno as "squeaky clean"??!!! a f#$king hilarious notion. i can understand being annoyed over spitzer's admin not being as ethically superb as they want everyone to think, but they're still on the generally correct side of the argument. bruno is just another thuggish conservative who lies cheats and steals just like the rest of them.