Aug 22, 2007 8:11 pm US/Eastern
Spitzer's Father Dragged Into 'Troopergate' Mess
Republican Stone Resigns, Accused Of Making Threats Against 83-Year-Old
by Marcia Kramer
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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The "troopergate" scandal is getting nastier by the day. On Aug. 22, big-time Republican consultant Roger Stone resigned after being accused of making threats against Gov. Eliot Spitzer's 83-year-old father, Bernard.
CBS
In the latest chapter of the political scandal that's rocking Albany, Republican political consultant Roger Stone is resigning after allegedly leaving a threatening phone message for Gov. Eliot Spitzer's father.
In the wake of the "troopergate" scandal, Bernard Spitzer says he recently got an anonymous, bizarre and threatening phone call. A voice message that appeared to make good on the threats of senate Republicans to make the 83-year-old testify about campaign loans to his son.
"If you resist this subpoena, you will be arrested and brought to Albany. And there is not a ------ thing your phony, psycho piece of ---- son can do about it. Bernie, your phony loans are about to catch up with you," the message said.
Spitzer's lawyers say the message appears to have been sent by big time Republican Stone, who had a $20,000-a-month gig advising Senate Republican Leader Joseph Bruno.
A report from Kroll Associates, a private investigator hired by the governor, says the threatening phone call appeared to come from Stone's apartment at 40 Central Park South.
CBS 2 HD tried to investigate the claim on Wednesday but was not allowed access to the building.
Stone says he was set up by his landlord, who is Gov. Spitzer's appointee to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and a long-time fundraiser.
"The same Spitzer operatives who were caught red-handed trying to set up Sen. Bruno are now trying to set me up," Stone said Wednesday.
"The landlord has keys and full access to my apartment, which is generally vacant as I stay on an average of one night a week."
Jeffrey Moerdler is Bernard Spitzer's lawyer
"Mr. Spitzer was very distressed by this message," Moerdler said.
In the wake of all this -- and with Stone's resignation at the Senate Republican's request -- Democrats are demanding an investigation.
Bruno labeled it a distraction from the allegations of political espionage in the "troopergate" scandal.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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