Damaging Revelations in Spitzer Dirty Tricks Scandal

Giving driver's licenses to illegal aliens may be the least of New York Governor Eliot Spitzer's problems, as a New York Post report today reveals his former communications director, Darren Dopp, asked another aide to lie about the origins of a smear campaign against Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno.

If true, this would contradict Spitzer's weak claim he had no knowledge of the plot, which first came to light several months ago.

The governor has some explaining to do.

Gov. Spitzer's former communications director, Darren Dopp, asked another Spitzer aide to lie about the origins of the Dirty Tricks Scandal - including the governor's own allegedly extensive knowledge of the plot to smear the Senate's GOP leader, a well-placed source told The Post yesterday.

Dopp wanted now-demoted Spitzer homeland-security aide William Howard to join him in denying there was anything unusual in their months-long effort to use the State Police to gather evidence purporting to show Majority Leader Joseph Bruno (R-Rensselaer) misused state aircraft for political purposes, said the source, who knows many of those involved in the scandal.

Dopp sought to have Howard, whose job involved overseeing the State Police, back up his initial public claim that the information gathered on Bruno was merely the result of a "change in State Police policy" designed to keep better track of the use of state aircraft, and was not part of a complex conspiracy aimed at damaging or destroying Spitzer's chief Republican opponent, the source continued.

The state Public Integrity Commission last week asked Albany District Attorney David Soares to examine possible perjury by Dopp before the commission.

UPDATE: Instapundit links. Thanks!