It seems to be the story that won't die.
Albany DA David Soares report last week apparently didn't put Troopergate to rest. There is still, for one thing, a Senate investigation -- although we did notice that high-priced DC lawyer Joe DiGenova will be terminating his services to the Senate investigating committee soon, so at least that one won't be too pricey. And the state Commission on Public Integrity hasn't dropped its investigation yet.
This morning comes news that Gov. Paterson has asked AG Andrew Cuomo, the first prober to not figure out that ex-Gov. Spitzer was behind it, to now investigate the role of the state police, and whether they have been employing a "dirty tricks" unit to smear political opponents. Paterson has given Cuomo subpoena power -- which the AG never got from Spitzer during his last probe.
Cuomo: " 'We'll do a thorough investigation and it will take a while; investigating a police department is very difficult - I want to do it right,' Cuomo said, adding that in contrast to past probes that were accelerated (it took his office 10 days to conduct its Troopergate investigation, for example) because there was a pressing public interest in clearing the air, this one will not be put on the fast track."
Then, too, we have the State Commission on Investigations (aka SIC) announcing that it is going to investigate the investigators -- a kind of meta-investigation of Troopergate. From chairman Alfred Lerner:
"Let me be clear. The Commission is not investigating the events concerning Troopergate; more than enough investigations of the issues surrounding those events have taken or are taking place. Rather, the Commission is investigating the investigations. We are seeking to determine the efficacy of the various investigatory efforts, including those of the Albany County District Attorney, the State Inspector General and the State Commission on Public Integrity."
Cuomo's original investigation, interestingly, is not listed.... Who will investigate the SIC investigation of the investigations?
SIC statement after the jump.
Statement from Alfred Lerner
"In August 2007, the State of New York Commission of Investigation issued a statement noting the various investigations into the so-called Troopergate matter by the Attorney General, the Inspector General, the Public Integrity (formerly Ethics) Commission, the Albany County District Attorney, and the Senate Investigations Committee. We said then that we were closely following these inquiries and had initiated our own preliminary review.
"We also said in our August statement that “in order to avoid the danger of conflicting investigations, with the inherent possibility of impeding one or all of them, we are postponing any further investigation until the District Attorney has had a reasonable opportunity to review this matter or other factors require Commission action.”
"While as a matter of policy, the Commission generally refrains from commenting publicly on pending investigations, we believe this matter is so crucial to the confidence New Yorkers have in their government that the Commission feels it is important to announce that it has renewed its investigation into this whole matter.
"Let me be clear. The Commission is not investigating the events concerning Troopergate; more than enough investigations of the issues surrounding those events have taken or are taking place. Rather, the Commission is investigating the investigations. We are seeking to determine the efficacy of the various investigatory efforts, including those of the Albany County District Attorney, the State Inspector General and the State Commission on Public Integrity.
"Our goal is to report to the people of New York and its government leaders on the effectiveness of those investigations and to propose recommendations for how investigations of high ranking State officials should take place going forward to ensure that New Yorkers can continue to have confidence in their government and government leaders."