Spitzer May Have Lied, Prosecutor Says

[TacticalPeek]

Source: NYT

March 29, 2008

Spitzer May Have Lied, Prosecutor Says

By DANNY HAKIM

ALBANY — Evidence collected by the Albany district attorney’s office indicates that Gov. Eliot Spitzer lied to the public last year about his role in an effort to discredit a political rival and may have misled the district attorney’s office itself in an interview last year, according to a report released late Friday.

In sworn testimony, Darren Dopp, Mr. Spitzer’s former communications director, portrays Mr. Spitzer as keeping closely abreast of aides’ efforts to compile evidence that the State Senate majority leader, Joseph L. Bruno, the state’s top Republican, misused state cars and helicopters, according to the report. Mr. Dopp goes as far as to describe the governor as enthusiastically issuing the final order to release Mr. Bruno’s travel records to the press.

Mr. Spitzer, by contrast, told the public — and the district attorney’s office — that he was barely involved in the release of the records and had been misled by his own staff about the collection and release of the documents about Mr. Bruno.

snip

Mr. Dopp was suspended in July after the Cuomo report was published and eventually left the administration; he was granted immunity by the district attorney in his investigation. He testified that when he warned the governor that Mr. Bruno would be angered by the release of the information, the governor responded with a series of expletives and told him to “shove it” into Mr. Bruno “with a red hot poker.”

“As he was saying it, he was like spitting a little bit,” Mr. Dopp told the investigators. “He was spitting mad.”



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/29/nyregion/29spitzer.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&ref=nyregion&pagewanted=print

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That's why they call him Mister Spitser.

[struggle4progress]

1. Spitzer named in plot to smear rival

From Newsday
March 29, 2008

ALBANY, N.Y. -- ...

The highly anticipated report was an about-face from one Soares' office released in September clearing Spitzer of any wrongdoing ...

The 20-page report is based largely on the sworn testimony of Spitzer's former communications director, Darren Dopp, who directed the gathering of data on Bruno and resigned in July after Atty. Gen. Andrew Cuomo's office revealed the efforts. Dopp was granted immunity for his testimony ...

"If Dopp's testimony is credited, then former Gov. Spitzer's answers were not truthful," the report said. A Spitzer spokeswoman declined to comment.

Had Spitzer remained in office, prosecutors would have put the matter before a grand jury, the report said. But the law would not allow the prosecution of a former public official for public misconduct.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/la-na-spitzer29mar29,1,6336684.story

[darue]

2. one question: did Bruno misuse state cars and helicopters? n/t

[kevinmc]

3. Looks like they got him first ... n/t

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. This is just so sad.

[EFerrari]

5. Another political prosecution. Spitzer may have also made water

but he hasn't been tried yet, has he?

[Algorem]

6. rove in on this one too?

[CGrantt57]

7. Stone to Bruno to Feds

It's like their very own perverted three-way.

Stone, a republican operative (served on CREP) digs up info on Spitzer that he likes call-girls. Feeds said info to Joe Bruno who hold Albany in his slimy vise-like grip. Also feeds info to Bush Justice Department who drools at chance to take down another democrat. J.D. uses ages-old Mann act to trump up charges against Spitzer and announce same in press conference.

Job done. Move on. No prosecution. Just hatchet job.

Bastards.

I hope they all get ass-fucked in hell with a pike pole. Repeatedly.

Regards,

[robcon]

8. Months ago, the Albany DA made an extraordinary claim that Spitzer was not involved

It is highly unusual for a DA to claim someone is NOT being investigated when the investigation is not over. I think Eliot has the DA's balls in his hands and was squeezing when the DA made that statement.

Spitzer is one nasty SOB, IMO.

[jimshoes]

9. I just can't get that worked up about the

former Governor's doings when the biggest liar of all keeps right on lying and getting a pass from every main stream media outlet. Whether it's about the "surge" or the credit crisis, it's all bullshit. I'm on overload.

[Doctor_J]

10. My prediction that this will still be in the news in November is

looking better and better. Rove owns the media and the DoJ

[Peace Patriot]

11. THIS is worth a NYT headline?

1.2 million innocent Iraqis slaughtered to get their oil. More people there dying every day, including U.S. soldiers. The U.S. facing Great Depression II. And they're playing Bushbot games about whether Eliot Spitzer was mad or spitting mad at a political rival?

Unbelievable.