Updated: Allegation On Blog Untrue, Target Says
The website Politics1.com is citing unnamed sources today that claim that John McCain’s national finance co-chairman Wayne Berman spearheaded an 18-month-long effort to smear former Gov. Eliot Spitzer.
Updated: Berman just called to say that the report is “total fiction.”
“There’s no truth to it whatsoever,” he said. “It is total fiction. There is absolutely no truth to it. Absolutely none. Zero. It is completely fabricated. No part of it has any shred of truth whatsoever.”
The site claims that Berman, a consultant for insurance executive Maurice Hank Greenberg, helped lead a “private investigation that discovered the links between Spitzer and a Florida escort service ring.”
The site said that the effort cost $2.2 million and was “allegedly paid for by a highly-secretive shadow committee Berman directed, informally nicknamed ‘The Group.’ Sources tell Politics1 that The Group included Greenberg, Home Depot founder Ken Langone and former New York Stock Exchange Chairman Ken Grasso—all high-profile targets of Spitzer when he was attorney general.”
The article says that the effort was aided by Republican consultant Roger Stone, who warred with Spitzer and was briefly hired by Senate Republicans. Yet Stone was fired by the state Republicans last year after he allegedly left a threatening message on Spitzer’s father’s home phone.
Stone is scheduled to appear tonight on NY1. Liz Benjamin at the Daily Politics has some information on Stone’s interview.
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How does one smear someone who is guilty, and admits guilt of the “smear?” This charge is palpable pap. It is called a pap smear.
Good one, Ed. And while you’re at it, shouldn’t a hysterectomy be called a hersterectomy?
Ha! Yes. And two doctors would be called a paradox.
Hmmm….and if they were two bad doctors who looked alike they’d be quacksimilies.
Almost quacked up over that one, but then I’d have to be an upside-down duck. Do ducks eat sturgeons? Guess that wouldn’t be hospitable.
I DON’T CARE IF MCCAIN’S GUY DID DO IT. THIS GOC WAS AND IS A DISGRACE TO NYS. ON A SIDE NOTE – ANDREA GOT REAL BAD NEWS ON A NEW POLL. IT APPEARS NICK SPANO IS IN THE LEAD AND I HEAR HE IS NOW STRONGLY CONSIDERING RUNNING FOR SENATE AGAIN. THIS IN MY OPINION WOULD BE GOOD FOR THE 35 DISTRICT. COUSINS HAS SHOWN HERSELF TO BE LAZY AND HAS ALSO DONE NOTHING FOR US IN ALBANY. ANY MONEY THAT YONKERS RECIEVED CAME FROM THE ASSEMBLY. IT’S TIME FOR HER TO GO.
If I were Hank Greenburgh I would be pissed at what
Spitzer did …he mortified and humiliated him in
public with wild accusations then never charged him
Greenberg who was the head of AIG didn’t deserve it
along with a lot of others…so the Sheriff of Wall
Street turned out to be a fraud…good for those who
exposed him…whether Berman had and active role or
not..Stone professes to have provided certain information
after he was the target of Spitzer’s petulence when
he was hired to consult to Joe Bruno..Spitzer got
exactly what he deserved for holding himself out
as holier than thou on the issue of prostitution
rings while at the same time patronizing them…
A little closer to home there is a similar
scenario being played out…
if it is a republican saying he didn’t do it then probably he did.
right…like Spitzer denied troopergate…or Hevasi
said he didn’t break the law..or Clinton denying
sex with Monica…get a little more objective..your
union ties are showing
There are Albany rumors that finally, maybe, the pols will be forced to deal with all the union perks and bennies because of the very bad financial straits NY is in. Of course that should have happened years ago. If it had, the state wouldn’t be as bad off as it is now.
let us all take this opportunity on earth day to congratulate president george w. bush for achieving the highest disapproval rating in the gallup poll since its inception.
Ed, Paul Revere—let’s get together for lunch. With “consultant,” whom I know, we’ll have fun. timhays@oponline.net
“Beware the wrath of the righteous.”—Spitzer should have read this before taking a high ground against others.
But he wasn’t biblical, only debaucherous.
Our God will forgive him, though he hurt some good people while he was in office.
He still isn’t proved to be as egregious as Bill Ryan. ;>