Spitzer Scandal Tarnishes Governor's Office, Newspaper

ALBANY, NY (07/24/2007)(readMedia)-- All signs indicate that "Spitzergate" is well on its way to becoming the most serious gubernatorial scandal in modern state history. And it is truly sad that a once trusted and respected news organization such as the Albany Times Union became embroiled in an effort to pervert and abuse the State's vitally important Freedom of Information Law.

The Attorney General's report concluded that: "persons in the governor's office did not merely produce records under a FOIL request, but were instead engaged in planning and producing media coverage..."

The explosive Attorney General's report, as well as news reports in today's New York Times, New York Post, and other media outlets across the State, place the Times Union at the center of this worsening storm.

It would be most charitable to say that the Times Union was unwittingly used by the Spitzer administration to advance its highly partisan political ends. It is unthinkable that a respected news organization with a long and distinguished record of public service would knowingly engage in the unseemly details of this unprecedented abuse of gubernatorial power. I sincerely hope that as additional details emerge no “smoking gun” points to the newspaper’s willing complicity in this mess.

Regrettably the Attorney General's report raises serious questions about the Times Union’s involvement. For example, why and how did the paper receive detailed documents on Senator Bruno's schedule that went far beyond its initial June 27th FOIL request? Why, if it were not acting in concert with the Spitzer administration, would the Times Union then submit a subsequent FOIL for this same information on July 10th, long after it's July 1st story had already run?

It is worth noting that the Spitzer Administration initially tried to cover-up its actions by stating that they were merely "responding to a FOIL request". After the initial story ran, the Times Union then gave the Spitzer Administration political cover by repeatedly running news stories, editorials and even an op-ed piece from its own editor, which stated that the whole affair came about after a reporter for the paper “obtained records under the state Freedom of Information Law..."

All of this sounded very innocent at the time. But it now, in light of the attorney general’s report, it raises serious questions about the journalistic objectivity of the Capital Region’s largest daily newspaper.

Whether due to collusion or incompetence, the Times Union now finds itself in the unenviable position of reporting on a scandal in which it plays a feature role.

As the investigation into this sordid affair continues, the Times Union has a responsibility to report the facts fairly and objectively even if it requires an unfortunate, and embarrassing, airing of its own dirty linen.

Thankfully, journalists throughout the rest of the state will be watching…..and reporting!!

-30-