Metro

Malcolm ignites GOP war

The city Republican Party is at war with itself in the wake of the Malcolm Smith corruption scandal, sources said yesterday.

State Sen. Martin Golden (R-Brooklyn) is maneuvering to oust Craig Eaton as the Kings County Republican chairman.

“Marty is telling people he wants to take Craig out,” a GOP official said.

Golden, the most powerful elected Republican in Brooklyn, did not deny it.

“No comment,” he said.

Meanwhile, Republican activists — including veteran consultant E. O’Brien Murray — called for Queens County GOP chairman Phil Ragusa to step down.

Ragusa’s right-hand man, vice chairman Vincent Tabone, was charged with accepting $25,000 in bribes as part of a scheme to give Democrat Smith, a state senator from Queens, access to the GOP line in a bid for mayor.

Former Bronx GOP chairman Jay Savino also was charged with taking $15,000 in bribes.

Other county chairmen are referred to in the criminal complaint, though not charged with crimes.

Golden claims the activities of other party leaders were improper, if not illegal.

The other party chairmen said Golden was unfairly smearing them.

“We can’t imagine that you would be thrilled if a county chairman called for your resignation the next time one of your fellow legislators is charged with a nefarious deed,” Manhattan GOP chairman Dan Isaacs, Eaton and Ragusa said in a joint letter to Golden.

GOP sources said the Smith case was just the latest blow-up in a simmering dispute between Golden and Eaton. Golden backs Joe Lhota for mayor, while Eaton supports John Catsimatidis.