NEW YORK STATE -- According to transcripts published Wednesday, former Spitzer Communications Director Darren Dopp repeatedly told the Commission on Public Integrity that Spitzer and his staff authorized each action taken in the release of Senator Bruno's travel records, contradicting the Governor's repeated claim that he knew nothing.
The transcripts may also support Dopp's earlier assertion that the Commission's Executive Director Herbert Teitelbaum was not interested in information that incriminated Spitzer.
In one excerpt, Teitelbaum asks Dopp "Did you discuss it with the governor as well?" Dopp says "Yes. He had the final pass." Then, according to the New York Post, after one more inquiry, Teitelbaum abruptly changes the subject.
Senator Joe Bruno, the subject of the Troopergate scandal, says it shows Spitzer's abuse of power and sheds unfavorable light on the motives of the CPI.
It is a scandal that has simmered in state politics for months, outlasting even the administration accused of carrying it out. Even though both Eliot Spitzer and Joe Bruno legacies are all but defined on the statewide stage, another man at the center of the Troopergate scandal sought to reclaim his reputation, Spitzer's former Communications Director Darren Dopp. Our Erin Billups tells us the latest on what he is saying.
"The Commission on Integrity is a huge disappointment and it was a huge disappointment that Elliot Spitzer insisted he monopolize over those commissioners and when we did the bill it had to be seven that he controlled," Bruno said.
Former director of the state lobbying commission, David Grandeau, says Dopp's transcripts are disappointing.
“Back in October in that context, you've got to wonder what Mr. Teitelbaum did with that information. Did he send it to the District Attorney? And if so you have to wonder why the District Attorney didn't act on it back in October. If in fact he never sent it to the District Attorney you have to ask yourself why?" Grandeau said.
Albany County District Attorney David Soares who's first report exonerated Spitzer and second implicated him, but after he left office, said in a statement: "It has been brought to my attention that portions of a transcript have been disseminated to the press and conclusions have been drawn based solely on that snapshot... I believe it is irresponsible to draw any conclusion without first reviewing the full breadth of the information gathered."
Grandeau says top CPI officials should be called to question.
“If the excerpts that were in the NY Post today are accurate, and if the Executive Director Herb Teitelbaum did not provide that information to the District Attorney in October of 2007, than in my opinion, yes he should resign," Grandeau said.