NY Senate panel demands gov's e-mails

[Ron Burgundy]

AP - A Senate committee on Friday said it will demand e-mails and other documents from within Gov. Eliot Spitzer's administration under threat of subpoena in its probe of a political scandal.

If the Democratic governor doesn't provide the documents revealing how two aides compiled travel data through the New York State Police regarding Republican Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, the Senate investigations committee will issue subpoenas, said Republican Sen. George Winner, the committee's chairman.

Spitzer spokesman Jeffrey Gordon wouldn't say if the administration will risk the subpoena threat but called the committee's inquiry "duplicative and partisan." He said Friday the committee has not yet requested specific documents from the administration.

"This matter has already been the subject of completed investigations by the attorney general, the inspector general and the Albany district attorney, all of whom received extensive documentary evidence and found that there was no illegal conduct," Gordon said. He said the administration will continue to cooperate with a probe by the Public Integrity Commission, the majority of which is appointed by Spitzer.

Democratic Attorney General Andrew Cuomo concluded in July that two Spitzer aides acted improperly to release embarrassing travel data about Bruno to a reporter, but he found no criminal violations.

The Times Union of Albany reported that Bruno had been using state aircraft to attend fundraisers in Manhattan.

Albany County District Attorney David Soares a week ago found no crime had been committed and found no evidence of a plot to smear Bruno. None of the probes completed so far used subpoenas to compel testimony or the production of records.

On Monday the Senate committee voted to subpoena the head of the State Police if he again refuses to voluntarily answer questions.

"Several of the witnesses that have appeared at the committee's hearings have not been cooperative or forthcoming with information and some have even refused to attend, hindering our efforts to develop effective legislation," Winner said.

The committee's stated purpose is to gather testimony and data to guide the writing of legislative proposals. But Democratic senators on the committee contend that Republicans simply want to perpetuate the scandal.

(This version CORRECTS that documents have not yet been requested.)

source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070928/ap_on_re_us/ny_political_feud [link]