Posted on 03/31/2008 10:26:27 AM PDT by Tirian
March 31, 2008 ALBANY - The scandal-scarred State Police is suspected of harboring a renegade unit that for years has secretly compiled personal information on top New York officials - possibly including Gov. Paterson, The Post has learned.
The governor got a whiff of the existence of such an illegal, politically directed operation after being told by several lawmakers that the State Police targeted them for unjustified traffic stops and "interfered in their personal lives," a senior Paterson aide told The Post yesterday.
The explosive information - supplied to Paterson by both Democrats and Republicans - suggests that the Dirty Tricks Scandal is far broader than the now well-known use of the State Police against Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno (R-Rensselaer) by disgraced ex-Gov. Eliot Spitzer and his aides.
"There is a climate of fear out there involving the State Police, and several members of the Legislature have made that clear to the governor," a Paterson administration official told The Post.
One lawmaker told Paterson of several "unusual events" in which State Police took several unexplained actions involving his personal life over a period of several months.
...
A law-enforcement source told The Post that a renegade State Police unit connected to the governor's security detail, under former Gov. George Pataki a decade ago, may have assembled dossiers on state lawmakers considered "unfriendly" to Spitzer and Pataki, and even on some "unfriendly" journalists.
The source cited the State Police "leak" in 2006 of highly damaging personal information on then-Republican US Rep. John Sweeney, a Bruno friend and political ally but a Pataki foe, that was largely responsible for Sweeney's defeat.
...
Paterson fears that senior State Police officials - bent on carrying out political agendas - remain in authority at the 4,000-plus-member Division of State Police, it was learned. ...
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
I hate it when the state police keeps track of poublic officials. My only regret is that they don’t arrest and prosecute many of them.
The real reason Spitzer resigned was because he had perjured himself in the State Police scandal and was about to be indicted in that case and bring down several Democrats with him.
These things happen when liberal dem and RINO Nazi-like bureaucrats (i.e., RINO-rudy, Spitzer, etc.) create, support, and depend upon jack-booted thug police forces to carry out their necessary Police/Nanny-State functions.
These agencies and agents (or rogue elements within) of corrupt and arrogant socialist big government sometimes turn on their masters.
Clinton used the AAArkansas State Police to do his dirty work while A.G. and then Governor, these guys have gone fre-lance without politcal cover.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
It is insurance by the boys in blue. They keep a little dirtywork in their pocket.
Thugs with a badge make me feel no safer. It is the one gang with “legal” standing.
Somethings gonna hit the fan!!! YaHoo!
You should cine it exceeds their constutional powers and violates the rights of the officials, and besides. There is obviously no criminal wrongdoing or the cops would be the first to say "we were investigating a crime." If the NY Staatssicherheitsdiest can spy on public officials, then they can spy on anyone.
the replies after #1 to this thread appear erratically: not at all in the forum link, and only sometimes when linking via the pings page.
The way our government is set up anymore, with little transparency, being elected to high office is tantamount to gaining power that can be used personally, professionally and cirminally—and many choose the latter.
Yet so many “constituents” vote for adulterers, liars, bribe-takers and drug addicts as if these are people who are upstanding in the communities they serve, while the “do-gooders” and Christians are ridiculed as out-of-touch morons.
Any fool knows this type of thing is going on in every big city and at the state/federal level. It’s the only way most of the pols can survive. Call it, survival of the most-influential.
working better now!
Seems like an abuse or misuse of state police. Had they made a big issue out of it a couple of arrogant pols may have been impeached or resigned. Instead they moved on to a higher office.
and now the comments have disappeared again ?
NYPost
Frederic Dicker
April 1, 2008
ALBANY - Gov. Paterson last night authorized Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to launch an unprecedented criminal probe of the State Police in the wake of The Post's report that a renegade unit may have compiled damaging personal information on Paterson and other top state officials.
The extraordinary authorization - contained in a letter from the governor to Cuomo that was obtained by The Post - grants the attorney general full subpoena power to call witnesses and obtain documents in what is expected to be a wide-ranging investigation of the State Police and its activities.
Paterson took the stunning action after consulting with Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno (R-Rensselaer) and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan). In the letter, Paterson wrote, "Recent reported events raise questions of possible political interference with the State Police and I am determined to not only ascertain the veracity of such reports but to do everything within my power to protect and strengthen the reputation of the State Police." "I will instruct the State Police to be fully cooperative with your investigation," Paterson added. An aide to Paterson told The Post, "Bad people should be rooted out, and this is why we have an attorney general and why we have this law." "What is most important is that the governor is looking to protect the brave men and women of the State Police who put their lives on the line for New Yorkers and who should not be unfairly besmirched by the improper or illegal activities of anyone."
-snip-
Cuomo is also likely to revisit the Dirty Tricks Scandal to determine the full extent of the decision-making process that led to the State Police effort to damage Bruno.
One case that may be scrutinized is that of former Rep. John Sweeney, a Republican from Saratoga Springs defeated in 2006, largely as a result of leaked State Police information he claimed originated with his political enemies.
Paterson's action came under two sections of the state's Executive Law that authorize the attorney general, at the direction of the governor, to investigate and prosecute "the alleged commission of any indictable offense or offenses in violation of the law." Cuomo had no immediate comment. The Post reported yesterday that the State Police force was suspected of harboring a renegade unit that for years secretly compiled personal information on top state officials.
The Post said Paterson had been approached by several members of the Legislature who suspected that they had been targeted by the State Police for unjustified traffic stops and unspecified "interference in their personal lives".
Agreed. Maybe Paterson was well-advised to air his dirty laundry at the start.
Would you be supportive of such a "hatchet squad" by the state police?
I don't know the best solution. I want ethical government and I'm disillusioned about ever accomplishing that goal.
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