Shocker! Spitzer Dirty Tricks Campaign Began Earlier Than Thought

Actually, there's nothing to be shocked about. What would be stunning is if the rest of the media outside of Fred Dicker actually got around to investigating this thug.

Gov. Spitzer'S office has turned over "damaging" documents to the Albany County District Attorney's Office revealing that the Dirty Tricks plot against his chief GOP opponent began much earlier than suspected, The Post has learned.

Law-enforcement sources said Dirty Tricks Scandal material subpoenaed weeks ago by DA David Soares from Spitzer's office suggests that the effort to damage or destroy the career of state Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno (R-Rensselaer) began as early as January 2007, the month Spitzer took office.

"The documents, which include e-mails, are damaging and embarrassing, and the press will have a field day if the material ever becomes public," said a source close to Spitzer.

I beg to differ. How would the press have a field day when most of them aren't even interested?

You think the New York Times is going to put any of their valuable resources into this when they're busy going after Bruno and editorializing about it?

Please.

Meanwhile, two sources said Spitzer's chief counsel, David Nocenti, testified under oath for several hours on the scandal Thursday before the state Public Integrity Commission, which is conducting its own probe.

A day later, members of the Spitzer-controlled commission - which is believed to be focusing on the actions of former top Spitzer aide Darren Dopp - were told at a secret "executive session" that action in the case, most likely a charge against Dopp, is expected within weeks.

Until now, Spitzer - who has yet to testify under oath about the scandal - has maintained that the use of the State Police by his aides to gather supposedly damaging information on Bruno began only weeks before The Post disclosed the existence of the plot last July 5.

Spitzer, in response to Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's bombshell July 23 report on the plot, also insisted he became aware of the effort to gather evidence on Bruno only shortly before The Post's disclosure.

That, my friends, is a damnable lie and Spitzer knows it.

I suspect Dopp is being set up as the fall guy here; Spitzer will magically avoid ever testifying under oath and will be on his merry way. Although Dopp may have had enough of this and is ready to roll over on Spitzer.

Dopp, a longtime Spitzer loyalist now working for Spitzer-connected lobbyist Pat Lynch, has sent signals to several political figures that he "won't remain silent" if he is legally charged.