The state Public Integrity Commission still has more work to do in the case of the administration of former Gov. Eliot Spitzer.

Since it became public knowledge that Spitzer's office sought to discredit then-Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno by having the state police compile reports on Bruno's travels, some state workers have been suspended or reassigned and some still face the prospect of $10,000 fines.

But Spitzer - with regard to this scandal, anyway - keeps emerging largely unscathed, despite testimony by several people involved that he was the architect of the plan.

It would be taking the easy way out to suggest that because Spitzer is now out of office that the investigation be closed for good, but there appears to be evidence that Spitzer had more than a passive role in the scandal, and others are left holding the bag.

Ironically, it was Spitzer who established the commission as one of his initial reform policies in Albany. And the fact that most commission members were appointed by Spitzer means that an appearance of a conflict of interest can't be avoided.

If there is evidence that Spitzer ordered people who worked for him to engage in unethical behavior, the Public Integrity Commission needs to hold him accountable - if only for the example it would set for others in public office.

Perhaps the best way to go forward is to have the Spitzer appointees step down so that the case can be looked at with fresh and impartial eyes.

The people who used to work for Spitzer certainly deserve to have this investigation reopened if there's a chance that their names might be cleared.

And the people of the state deserve to hear a complete and honest account of how this scandal unfolded and who should ultimately bear the most blame.