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.”
Cuomo is expected to probe whether members of Eliot Spitzer‘s personal security detail were aware the then-governor was patronizing prostitutes and, if so, what actions were taken.
Cuomo is expected to probe the suspected behind-the-scenes role current state Power Authority Inspector General Daniel Wiese had in managing the State Police. Wiese is a one-time head of Gov. George Pataki’s State Police security unit and a Spitzer friend.
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.”.