Albany Watch

Darren Dopp, communications director to former Gov. Eliot Spitzer, will get his day before the state Commission on Public Integrity on March 11 to fight civil charges that he violated the Public Officers Law when he released travel records in 2007 on former Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno’s use of state aircraft.

Dopp and the commission will make their arguments before the commission’s administrative law judge Christine Kopec, who would then decide whether to uphold the charges or drop them.

Dopp could face up to a $10,000 fine.

It’s unclear who Dopp’s attorney Michael Koenig may call to testify, but he’s suggested in the past that he could call Spitzer to the stand.

Dopp said today that he plans to put forth evidence on Herbert Teitlebaum, the commission’s executive director, who has been accused of leaking information during the commission’s probe to Spitzer’s staff.

“I’m really looking forward to the hearing. I have evidence regarding Mr. Teitelbaum’s conduct in this case that I intend to make public,” Dopp said.

In July, the commission released 3,000 pages from its Troopergate investigation of whether Spitzer’s aides conspired to release travel records that showed former Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno was using state aircraft for political purposes.

The commission alleged that Spitzer aides Richard Baum, Dopp and William Howard, as well as former State Police Superintendent Preston Felton, violated sections of the Public Officers Law by working to compile records in a plot to smear Bruno.

Baum and Howard settled with the commission, while Dopp and Felton are fighting the charges. There is no date set yet for Felton’s hearing.

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