Controversy over use of State Police for surveillance / "Troopergate" Eliot Spitzer

on july 23, 2007, new york attorney general andrew cuomo s office admonished spitzer administration ordering state police keep special records of senate majority leader joseph bruno s whereabouts when traveled police escorts in new york city.

a 57-page report issued attorney general s office concluded spitzer engaged in creating media coverage concerning senator bruno s travel. investigation looked both bruno s travel , senate leader s allegation spitzer used state police spy on him. cuomo concluded these e-mails show persons in governor s office did not merely produce records under freedom of information act , request, instead engaged in planning , producing media coverage concerning senator bruno s travel on state aircraft before foil request made. suggests governor s staff lied when tried explain had done , forced state police go far beyond normal procedures in documenting bruno s whereabouts.

the report cleared bruno of misuse of state s air fleet, had been alleged. report criticized spitzer s office using state police resources gather information bruno s travel , releasing information media. findings of report endorsed spitzer s own inspector general, kristine hamann.

spitzer responded @ july 23 press conference governor, accountable goes on in executive branch , accept responsibility actions of office , administration had grossly mishandled situation. spitzer subsequently announced indefinitely suspend communications director, darren dopp, , reassign top official. when questioned promise bring ethical responsibility state politics, spitzer responded saying not tolerate behavior , ethics , accountability must , remain rigorous in administration, , have stated want ethics , integrity hallmarks of administration. why requested state inspector general review allegations respect office, , why have cooperated both inquiries.

the investigations of event, dubbed troopergate media outlets, not affected spitzer s resignation. of march 2008, 4 probes state attorney general s office, state senate investigations committee, albany county district attorney s office, , new york commission on public integrity ongoing.