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New York State Senate Chairman Not Investigating Stone's Accusation Against Spitzer
You may have heard about New York Republican operative Roger Stone, who has been accused of placing an obscene, threatening phone call to Democratic Governor Eliot Spitzer's 83-year old father. Stone is not only denying he placed the call, but has gone one step further by accusing Spitzer operatives of illegally entering his home to hijack his phone, using audio samples of his voice from TV appearances so that they could fake the phone call in order to make him look bad.
As it turns out, the chairman of the state Senate Investigations Committee informed TPMmuckraker that he will not be investigating Stone's various allegations. "Any alleged phone call would be more appropriately investigated by a law enforcement office as a potential harassment charge," said Republican state Senator George Winner, who has been spearheading other probes against the governor. "But this committee has no jurisdiction, really, or interest in that."
So does Senator Winner think Stone's accusation might be true?
"I have no idea about that. Mr. Stone and I have no involvement with one another. He is not involved with any activities of the Senate Investigations Committee," said Winner, adding that he only ever met Stone once, at a luncheon that also hosted a lot of other Republicans.
Winner did, however, recommend that people check out SpoofCard.com, a Web site that allows someone to fake a Call ID number and even disguise their voice — a sight that is currently the target of investigations by a different state Senate committee and Democratic state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.
While Winner seems to be allowing for the hypothetical possibility that a call can be faked, on the other hand he's not taking any role in investigating the accusation, and he's definitely saying it was a good idea for Joe Bruno to let Stone go. "If he made that call, it was an improper action on his part, and I'm glad that Senator Bruno has terminated his relationship with the campaign committee as a consultant," Winner said. "I don't know whether it's true or isn't true, but I'm glad his services are no longer being utilized by us, because it's something of a distraction."
"The whole thing is very bizarre. I can't understand what advantage it would for anybody to make the call, and I can't understand what advantage there would be to direct anyone to make the call," Winner said. "I mean, what advantage would anyone have to make a harassing phone call to an 83 year old man?"
Comments (12)
zAmboni wrote on August 22, 2007 7:05 PM:I think that both you and Josh may have missed something that shows how pie in the sky this claim is.
1) he claims that spitzer operatives broke into his apartment and used his phone
2) Used caller ID to mask where the call came from.
Why would you need to spoof the number on caller ID if the OPERATIVES BROKE IN AND USED HIS OWN PHONE???. I.e. they would be spoofing the phone number that they were dialing from.
Second. All they need is Spitzer's pop's phone number. That number should show the physical phone number that the call came from and not some phone number spoof.
agathena wrote on August 22, 2007 7:28 PM:I had the displeasure of listening to the actual phone call and then a radio broadcast of Roger. (through a link on the NYTimes website)
It's the same nasal tone although Stone speaks more slowly on the radio. On the phone he sounded like the nastiest, rottenest person I've ever heard.
This man has been wallowing in sleaze his entire adult life.
jeffgee wrote on August 22, 2007 8:07 PM:He looks like a Will Ferrell character with his luvvah.
libra wrote on August 22, 2007 8:11 PM:"I mean, what advantage would anyone have to make a harassing phone call to an 83 year old man?" -- Winner
Spite. Plain, mean spite. It's easier to intimidate an 83yr old man and get at his son this way than doing it directly. And repubs have plenty of spite and not so much common sense.
Richard L. Adlof wrote on August 22, 2007 9:06 PM:Advantage? Wipes who make these sort of calls are living the sort of lives that advantage plays a part in . . . Think stunted adolescence and mean-spirted.
No advantage was being sought . . . He was being a fuck-head. Conversations about 'advantage' are for adults.
PDX Dem wrote on August 22, 2007 11:48 PM:I wonder what TV program they sampled Roger saying "your piece-of-shit son" on. The call sounds Stone was reading from a script. Hard to imagine cutting and pasting such a soundbite and have all the inflections just right.
bob h wrote on August 23, 2007 7:54 AM:I would mess with a Mafia hit man before I would mess with a NYC real estate mogul, regardless of age.
modmom wrote on August 23, 2007 9:46 AM:Daily Kos has a great timeline of the evil doings of this scum:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/3/4/122247/7113
BluestateRedhead wrote on August 23, 2007 11:47 AM:anybody know if any crimes committed because of use of phone? or the threat itself? Muck or Josh recently mentioned a former diplomat under indictment for phone threats to an Arab-american foundation but those were interstate. Lawyers, are you out there?
Seem wrote on August 23, 2007 1:26 PM:just curious since spitzer jr. has this one figured out, given his former position...
security word: sheep, as in sheep to the slaughter.
TPMMuckraker, give zAmboni a job!
LiberalTarian wrote on August 23, 2007 2:41 PM:You know, this wasn't just "some guy" who supposedly broke into his apartment and used his phone. The guy has a name, and he is being defamed in print.
Why doesn't he sue the bastard?? His reputation is being ground like so much chuck into hamburger. Letting these people get away with this kind of thing has got to come to a screeching halt. These are lies--make them pay.
Ruffian wrote on August 23, 2007 7:59 PM:George Winner- not the brightest bulb around....