Posted on 02/06/2009 2:25:20 PM PST by presidio9
Gov. David Paterson isn't off the hook for the leaks about Caroline Kennedy. A government watchdog is demanding that the state's Commission on Public Integrity investigate, just as it did for leaks during Eliot Spitzer's "Troopergate" case.
Paterson may be hesitant to cast stones at the members of his staff responsible for anonymous attacks on Caroline Kennedy after she withdrew from Senate contention, but public watchdogs are ready to throw stones at him.
Should An Investigation Be Launched? Comment On This Story.
Government reform advocate Blair Horner of the New York Public Research Interest Group wants the Commission on Public Integrity to investigate leaks by Paterson's office that Kennedy wasn't picked to replace Sen. Hillary Clinton because of "potentially embarrassing personal issues" including allegations of a tax problem, a nanny issue, and whispers of marital distress.
"The public has every right to expect that if people misbehave in public office. Again, they're there as public servants, they misbehave, if in fact that's what happened, that they get punished for it," said Horner.
And there's another potential problem for the governor. Officials at the state Committee on Open Government tell CBS 2 that that if the information came from a confidential questionnaire filled out by Kennedy, it could be a violation of the state's personal privacy protection law.
Kennedy, who lives on Park Avenue, could sue Paterson.
Do voters think the leaks should be probed? We asked some:
"I think that any kind of wrongdoing or corruption in the government should be investigated," said Manhattan resident Tara Shimooka.
"She's not part of the government. It shouldn't be investigated," said Riverdale resident Georgette Reitman.
There was no response from the Kennedy camp about what the Princess of Camelot plans to do about the leaks and the damage to her reputation.
A spokesman for the Commission on Public Integrity said he was not allowed by law to confirm whether there is a probe. He said, however, the commission would be obligated to act if a complaint was made.
Blair Horner said he intends to file such a complaint.
I could not care less. Put them all in a ring and toss three or four knives in among them. I'm tired of hearing about camel squat.
David Patterson may be blind, but he saw this travesty with Queen Camelot for what she is...
Ithink if an investigation is launched, Caroline will come out even dirtier than the leaks report.
The smart thing for her to do is to wait for Uncle Teddy to die and gofor his job. The idiots in Mass. will want her , her name is Kennedy.
What reputation ?
Reputation? What reputation. Before this mess Queen Camelot was just a bump on a log.
But, what about “the Public’s RIGHT TO KNOW”?
You want a public job, make sure your bodies are decetly buried, where they won’t be found.
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