Spin Cycle

Here are comments verbatim from Skelos' exchange with WABC-TV reporter Dave Evans:

SENATOR SKELOS: You know just reading what I read in the paper, I think it borders on criminality. You can not threaten people to give contributions.

Certainly that is not the "change" I think people are looking for.

That's thuggery, and I think that's totally inappropriate to make those sorts of statements. Quid pro quo is a crime, you go to jail.

Reporter: Borders on criminality, should there be an investigation?

SENATOR SKELOS: I think that's something for the District Attorney, but to say you're going to punish if you don't contribute. That this is an IPO give now and it will be less than if you give in the future? Those type of statements are very troubling to me and certainly for a party that's saying they're for reform and change, I mean that's going back to the old Tammany Hall days.

UPDATE: Asked about the published reports, Sen. Thomas Libous (R-Binghamton), Skelos' deputy, told an Albany television station: "That’s what thugs do, they threaten people."