Spitzer aid resigns after report released: threatened PSC member over Queens blackout investigation.

[Maddy McCall]

August 4, 2007 -- ALBANY - A new ethics scandal hit Gov. Spitzer's administration yesterday as a top policy adviser, facing the imminent release of a "critical" report on charges he threatened a Public Service Commission member, abruptly resigned.

Steven Mitnick, the governor's $145,800-a-year deputy secretary for energy and a former energy-company executive, was accused in April by PSC Commissioner Cheryl Buley of threatening her career on several occasions if she didn't back off calls for an investigation of Con Edison's massive blackout in Queens last summer.

Buley, appointed by Republican Gov. George Pataki, publicly disclosed the alleged threats at a PSC meeting, triggering demands for an investigation from state GOP leaders.

She charged that Mitnick "sought to influence my position" and "attempted to coerce me" into dropping her request for a probe.

Buley said Mitnick called her five or six times and "at one point, he went so far as to say that my failure to act consistent with his request could result in me being removed from my commissioner position."

"I felt threatened," Buley told reporters at the time.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/08042007/news/regionalnews/gov_aide_in_latest_storm_regionalnews_fredric_u__dicker__state_editor.htm

[brentspeak]

1. That makes two of Spitzer's aides resigning for acting like thugs

What kind of people is Spitzer surrounding himself with?

[napi21]

2. Are we sure this isn't whiny Pubs trying to punish Spitzer?

I know. Nothing in the article indicates that, but there's been sooo much lying within the Pubs, I can't believe ANYTHING I hear or read anymore!

[aquart]

3. Two separate incidents?

I understand that Bruno and every Republican is scared to death of local elections this November. So anything they can do to look like Democratic victims will be seized upon. But it's damn clear that Spitzer's people got too full of themselves and ACTED LIKE REPUBLICANS. Absolute power corrupts absolutely and I hope Spitzer is sufficiently chastised. He has not made me happy since he's been in office. He was all righteousness going after Hevesi, well, how does it feel?

The Democratic Party in NYC was basically tossed on its ear for corruption because we were a one-party city. You won the primary, you got the mayoralty, you got the council seat. And our behavior became disgusting to everyone. LIKE THE YEAR WE FORGOT THAT THE SCHOOLS NEEDED TO OPEN! Yah, it was bad. So now we've had two Republican mayors and two terms of a Republican governor. We deserved it for what we did. Spitzer was our chance to show the Dems deserve to come back all the way. Oh, well.

Let no Dem think we're above becoming what the Republicans are today. We ain't. Which is why I get sick thinking of a Democrat with George's power. George will skate on impeachment and our idiot will fall into the trap.