Coming Up Clean

An investigation into whether Gov. Eliot Spitzer's (D-NY) top officials engaged in criminal misconduct has resulted in a clean bill of health for those officials. The investigation launched by Albany County DA Soares was necessitated by shady acts by the Governor's office into investigating Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno's (R) use of state aircraft.

The investigation found that the governor's office was within its rights in compiling and releasing documents to the media concerning the use of state aircraft.

"To the contrary, we found that the governor, his staff and the New York State Police were acting within their authority in compiling and releasing documents to the media concerning the use of state aircraft," Soares added.

Soares - who closed the investigation after probers interviewed Gov. Spitzer Wednesday - said he will release a detailed report today.

"The governor is gratified by the conclusions reached by [Soares] and looks forward to reading the report," said Spitzer spokeswoman Christine Anderson.

Republicans and other critics of the scandal yesterday questioned how Soares could find no criminal wrongdoing when his investigators did not subpoena records or place anyone interviewed - including the governor - under oath.

That latter point is sure to be a bone of contention, and while Soares has managed to weed out the corrupt Alan Hevesi (D), his office may not have done a sufficient job in dealing with potential malfeasance here.