New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who came to power in Albany in the role of reformer, had his reputation tarnished Monday after his office was chastised by the state attorney general for delving into the same sort of underhanded politics Spitzer had vowed to stop.

Two high-ranking members of the governor's office had compiled information inferring that Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno had used state police aircraft to participate in political fundraisers, rather than to conduct state business.

The aides had told the state police they were compiling the travel documentation because a reporter had requested it.

Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's office then became involved and issued a report Monday stating that no reporter had requested the state police documents and that Spitzer's staff had acted inappropriately in leaking the material to the press. The report said that Bruno's use of state aircraft was investigated and found to be permissible under state policy.

Spitzer quickly offered a public apology to Bruno Monday but deflected blame for the fiasco by disciplining two members of his staff he said made “improper judgment calls.”

It's hard to believe that Spitzer didn't have direct knowledge that Bruno was being investigated by two of the governor's most senior staff members. But even if he was in the dark, he needs to personally take responsibility for their actions.

If trying to smear Bruno's reputation wasn't on Spitzer's agenda, his staff should have been aware of it.

After only a few months in office, Spitzer has certainly disappointed many who saw him as the agent of change in Albany.

It hasn't taken him long to fall into the bitter name-calling and political games that were the hallmarks of the George Pataki era.

The governor needs to get this debacle behind him and move forward with a renewed focus on working for the people of New York.