ALBANY - The former state police commander at the center of claims a rogue unit did political dirty tricks for two governors has asked for internal e-mails from the state agency that fired him, information he believes will prove his innocence.
Daniel Wiese, a retired state police official who headed the security detail for Gov. George Pataki and was close to Gov. Eliot Spitzer, wants e-mails between 13 employees at the state Power Authority, which fired him May 23, according to a copy of a letter obtained Monday.
Power Authority spokeswoman Christine Pritchard had no immediate comment.
Wiese was suspended April 1, when Attorney General Andrew Cuomo began investigating claims state police were used for political purposes. Cuomo said Wiese's computer and cell phone were scrubbed clean of information just as the probe was made public. Wiese denies that and copies of his e-mails before April 1 were recorded and are available for an unrelated civil lawsuit involving the authority and another employee.
“We strongly believe that Dan Wiese was knowingly fired in violation of several of NYPA's own human resources policies,” said Wiese's attorney, Kevin Kitson. “Once NYPA provides us with our requested documentation we will consider all applicable legal remedies.”
Kitson will also seek Wiese's employee evaluations.
Wiese has said he knew of no rogue state police operation.
Pataki and two previous state police superintendents also rejected the idea of a rogue element in the long gray line.
Gov. David Paterson has said suspicions about political misdeeds by an element of the state police include accusations by “more than 10” unidentified lawmakers who said troopers followed and stopped them for traffic infractions.
One lawmaker complained that he was stopped for speeding and, before he drove home, the incident was already mentioned on a blog.
There are no accusations by law enforcers at this point that any state police broke laws, threatened or harassed political figures.
Wiese is a longtime confidant of Pataki and Spitzer, a Democrat who resigned in March after he was identified in a prostitution investigation.
Pataki, a Republican, appointed Wiese inspector general at the Power Authority.
He also appointed most members of the authority board that fired Wiese.
Power Authority spokeswoman Christine Pritchard had no immediate comment.
Wiese was suspended April 1, when Attorney General Andrew Cuomo began investigating claims state police were used for political purposes. Cuomo said Wiese's computer and cell phone were scrubbed clean of information just as the probe was made public. Wiese denies that and copies of his e-mails before April 1 were recorded and are available for an unrelated civil lawsuit involving the authority and another employee.
“We strongly believe that Dan Wiese was knowingly fired in violation of several of NYPA's own human resources policies,” said Wiese's attorney, Kevin Kitson. “Once NYPA provides us with our requested documentation we will consider all applicable legal remedies.”
Kitson will also seek Wiese's employee evaluations.
Wiese has said he knew of no rogue state police operation.
Pataki and two previous state police superintendents also rejected the idea of a rogue element in the long gray line.
Gov. David Paterson has said suspicions about political misdeeds by an element of the state police include accusations by “more than 10” unidentified lawmakers who said troopers followed and stopped them for traffic infractions.
One lawmaker complained that he was stopped for speeding and, before he drove home, the incident was already mentioned on a blog.
There are no accusations by law enforcers at this point that any state police broke laws, threatened or harassed political figures.
Wiese is a longtime confidant of Pataki and Spitzer, a Democrat who resigned in March after he was identified in a prostitution investigation.
Pataki, a Republican, appointed Wiese inspector general at the Power Authority.
He also appointed most members of the authority board that fired Wiese.
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