Research

Administrative History

In mid-2007, a series of press accounts alleged that Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno had made inappropriate use of State travel resources. It soon became apparent that senior Executive Chamber staffers might have directed the State Police to compile information concerning Senator Bruno's travel and then released the information to the news media in hopes of discrediting a political rival; moreover, Governor Eliot L. Spitzer might have known and approved of their actions. The State Office of the Attorney General, the State Office of the Inspector General, the State Commission on Public Integrity, and the Albany County District Attorney's Office all opened inquiries into the resulting scandal, which was quickly dubbed "Troopergate."

The inquiries conducted by the State Office of the Attorney General and the State Office of the Inspector General, both of which ended on July 23, 2007, and the Albany County District Attorney's Office, which ended on September 22, 2007, all determined that neither the Governor nor his staff had committed any crimes; the State Office of the Attorney General also investigated Senator Bruno's usage of State travel resources and determined that he had not violated any laws or policies. However, in late 2007, testimony that Governor Spitzer's Director of Communications, Darren Dopp, gave before the State Commission on Public Integrity led the Commission to request that the District Attorney's Office open a second "Troopergate" inquiry. This inquiry, named Investigation "D," examined whether Dopp had committed perjury or other crimes when supplying statements to the State Office of the Attorney General on July 22, 2007.

On March 28, 2008, the District Attorney's Office concluded that neither Dopp, who was given immunity in exchange for "truthful, under oath testimony on what occurred during 'Troopergate,'" nor other Executive Chamber staffers had committed any criminal acts. The State Commission on Public Integrity resumed its investigation and on 24 July 2008 concluded that Dopp, Secretary to the Governor Richard Baum, Assistant Secretary for Homeland Security William Howard, and Acting State Police Superintendent Preston Felton had violated various provisions of Section 74 of the Public Officers Law, which outlines the code of ethics all state employees must observe. Baum and Howard settled with the Commission, but Dopp and Felton contested the charges against them.