Spitzer's Steamroller Approach Lacks Power

Before Gov. Eliot Spitzer became Whiplash Spitzer for his amazing series of gaffes and 180s, he was known as the steamroller for the way he bullied opponents into submission.

Well, that approach hasn't exactly gotten the job done since he became governor. His flacks on the Second Floor have tried bullying opponents, and in the latest instance, Spitzer's policy director, Peter Pope, verbally threatened the head of the NY Independent Power Providers, Gavin Donohue, over a plan to build a new nuclear power plant and two clean coal plants in the state.

"Pope was screaming and threatening to get him fired with his bosses and jabbing his finger in Donohue's face," added another source, who claimed Pope had also threatened several lobbyists over policy disagreements.

"He was yelling at Gavin, 'You're working against us! You're trying to hurt us! You have to pressure [Senate Majority Leader Joseph] Bruno to get with us on this!'

"When Gavin tried to explain why he opposed the governor's plan, Pope said he didn't want to know about the substance of the issue. He just wanted to close down [pass] the governor's bill," the source continued.

Donohue, former deputy chief of staff to Gov. George Pataki and a one-time state Environmental Conservation Department executive deputy commissioner, wasn't intimidated by the confrontation, telling associates, "I told Pope, in so many words, to go f - - - himself."

"I have never been treated so unprofessionally in my whole life," he told associates.

Donohue kept detailed, written notes of the clash, one associate said. Contacted by The Post, Donohue said he'd had "intense negotiations" with Pope.

Pope is also deeply involved in the troopergate kerfuffle involving Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno (R-Rensselaer).

Darren Dopp, another of Spitzer's pit-bulls on the Second Floor, is not the only one facing perjury charges in relation to the Bruno affair.

Multiple Spitzer aides could be looking at similar charges. Their fates depend on what the governor's ex-communications director, Darren Dopp, tells Albany County District Attorney David Soares, and what - if any - evidence Dopp can provide to demonstrate he was somehow compelled or coerced to lie to protect himself or his boss.

"If this guy has any concrete evidence that other people lied or swore to evidence that wasn't true, it could be very damaging," said a source with intimate knowledge of the Soares investigation. "Whoever it was that signed their names to these pleadings could also be facing perjury charges."

Five separate Troopergate investigations have been conducted since the scandal rose this summer out of the Spitzer administration's botched effort to collect dirt on the use of state aircraft by the governor's political nemesis, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno.

Soares, state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, state Inspector General Kristine Hamann, the Senate Investigations Committee and the state Commission on Public Integrity have all had a piece of the scandal. Several investigations are ongoing; one is tied up in court.

In each probe, numerous statements have been made - both written and oral - some given under oath.

The Daily News recently revealed that Dopp kept a diary of his role in Troopergate that conflicted with a single-paragraph sworn statement he provided in July to Cuomo's office. Another Spitzer aide, Secretary Richard Baum, provided a similarly terse statement to Cuomo, and a third aide, Bill Howard, testified under oath.

Dopp provided unsworn testimony to Soares' office before the DA issued a report in September that cleared the Spitzer administration of any criminal wrongdoing in Troopergate. Soares has not sought to speak to Dopp again since launching the perjury investigation several weeks ago, according to multiple sources.

Dopp's attorney, Michael Koenig, said his client "is looking forward to favorably resolving this," adding: "He's very confident."