Jul 17, 2008 1:58 pm US/Eastern
Ex-Spitzer Aide Accuses Probers Of Unfair Tactics
NEW YORK (AP) ―
-
-
New York Governor Eliot Spitzer holds a news conference in New York City with his wife Silda by his side March 10 2008 after it was announced that he has been involved in a prostitution ring. (File Image)
Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images
A former top aide to Gov. Eliot Spitzer on Thursday accused New York's Public Integrity Commission of inappropriately contacting the disgraced governor's inner circle during an investigation into a political scandal.
Former Communications Director Darren Dopp told The Associated Press that commission Executive Director Herbert Teitelbaum, who was hired by a Spitzer appointee, has talked with a top Spitzer confidant "on how to keep the probe focused on me and no one else."
Dopp claims he is taking blame even though he was under orders from Spitzer, who resigned March 17 amid a prostitution investigation. Dopp is accused of misusing state police to release records that would hurt then-Republican Senate leader Joseph Bruno.
Commission spokesman Walter Ayres says the commission supports Teitelbaum.
"We can't comment on anything having to do with an investigation by law," Ayres said. "The commissioners, Republicans and Democrats, those appointed by Eliot Spitzer as well as those nominated by others, have expressed full confidence in the chair, the other commissioners, and all staff members in that we are conducting a fair and impartial investigation."
Dopp said he believes the investigation is likely tainted by Teitelbaum's action and wants the probe delayed until the executive director's actions are investigated.
"It's disappointing that the commissioners weren't willing to even consider what I had to say, but that's the way it has been since the beginning," Dopp told the AP Thursday.
Dopp accused Teitelbaum of contacting Spitzer senior adviser Lloyd Constantine, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing in investigations conducted by the commission, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and the Albany County district attorney.
Dopp offered no proof of what Teitelbaum and Constantine discussed, if they were in contact during the investigation at all. Constantine resigned his position this spring after assisting in the transition to the administration of Gov. David Paterson.
Dopp made the complaint in a letter he wrote to this week to a commission member, lawyer Daniel R. Alonso, saying Teitelbaum didn't pursue Dopp's claim that he was following the direction of Spitzer in the scheme, not acting on his own. Weeks later, Albany County District Attorney P. David Soares, in reopening his investigation of the matter, re-interviewed Dopp.
In his report based on that interview with Dopp, Soares concluded Spitzer may have lied when he told investigators he wasn't involved in a plot against Bruno and that Spitzer could have been indicted had he not resigned in disgrace in the prostitution scandal. Dopp had recounted conversations and e-mails that indicated he was directly ordered by Spitzer in a profanity laced exchange to release to a report records tracking use of state aircraft that could embarrass Bruno and perhaps lead him deeper into a federal investigation.
Bruno has since resigned.
On June 28, Dopp told The New York Times that Teitelbaum didn't want to hear about Spitzer's involvement. Dopp said he wants "to clear my name."
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
2009 Celebrity Deaths, July-Dec.
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
