Report: Spitzer Pushed Staff’s Effort to Smear Bruno

NEW YORK -- Former Gov. Eliot Spitzer was deeply involved in his administration’s efforts last year to discredit the state Senate majority leader, Joseph L. Bruno, holding detailed discussions with senior aides, ordering damaging information about Bruno released, and calling an aide at home repeatedly to check on the progress, The New York Times reported Monday citing several people with direct knowledge of the investigation.

The governor has previously said he was not personally involved in the effort, suggesting only that he was vaguely aware that his aides had responded to a reporter’s inquiry about Bruno’s travels on state aircraft, the paper reported.

But testimony and other information gathered by the Albany County district attorney, P. David Soares, indicate that the governor’s participation was extensive and reflected Spitzer’s intense desire to damage Bruno, the people with knowledge of the case told the paper.

A spokeswoman for Spitzer, who resigned March 12 after reports that he had patronized a high-priced prostitution ring, could not immediately comment by the paper on Sunday night.

-- NYSSCPA.org News Staff

Posted on 3/24/08