By Mark Scott
Albany, NY – Two top aides to Governor Eliot Spitzer who refused to be interviewed in the attorney general's probe of misuse of state police to track a Republican opponent did make a sworn statement.
According to the Associated Press, the aides insisted they were responding to unidentified reporters' inquiries, but acknowledge they should have gone through other channels to avoid "the appearance of impropriety."
The aides -- Secretary to the Governor Rich Baum and Communications Director Darren Dopp -- don't mention Spitzer in the statement and wouldn't allow themselves to be questioned on whether the governor knew of the political conspiracy to monitor Republican Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno. Baum said he did not direct the state police to conduct any surveillance of Bruno, and did not direct anyone else to do so.
Dopp has been suspended for his role.
Senate Republicans are asking for committee investigations that could include subpoenas of high-ranking Spitzer staff to determine if Spitzer knew of the plot. Spitzer has denied he did.
In a statement released Wednesday, a spokeswoman for the governor said there is no need for independent hearings by the Senate because the investigation of the State Attorney General found no criminal conduct.
Press Secretary Christine Anderson said a Senate probe would be a waste of taxpayers' money.