Ex-Spitzer Aide Won't Face Perjury - For Now

While Governor Spitzer has been trying to get back to business, the Senate Investigations Committee and Albany County DA's office have been busy deciding what to do with Spitzer's from communications director Darren Dopp. Dopp resigned after he at least co-devised a plan to smear Spitzer's rival Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno over the summer.

The NY Times reports the Albany County DA's office is not going to charge Dopp with perjury - yet. Dopp's statement to Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's investigators may conflict with testimony he gave the state Commission for Public Integrity. Dopp told the commission that he wanted to speak to Cuomo's office about the Troopergate matter and that Spitzer's counsel, per the Sun, "urged him instead to sign a two-paragraph sworn statement denying any criminal wrongdoing but recognizing that he made misjudgments."

The tricky thing? While it's called a sworn statement, nowhere in the statement does it say "I swear to the truth of the statement." Which means it technically might not be used as basis for grounds for perjury. Wow, that's some CYA maneuvering! However, the Albany County DA David Soares may reopen the investigation next year.

As for the Senate Investigations Committee, the Times-Union reports it has been considering giving Dopp immunity so he can spill more beans about Troopergate. But the full Legislature as well as Spitzer would need to approve that.