ALBANY - Former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer gave a combative interview with a state official probing a political scandal in which he insulted his interrogator, scorned Albany politicians and threatened to file disciplinary complaints, according to transcripts released Tuesday.

As state Inspector General Joseph Fisch interviewed the ex-governor in October about his role in an effort to disgrace a political foe, Spitzer turned the tables by threatening to file a disciplinary complaint against Gov. David Paterson's administration. Spitzer was claiming Paterson officials improperly released some of his e-mails under the state Freedom of Information Law.

“These are FOILS that related to me, related to my children,” Spitzer said. “They were not within the scope of the request. ... I am very conscious of the failure of those within the chamber these days to observe even a modicum of legal principal, ethical conduct or respect for others who have held office.”

Paterson said Wednesday that he wouldn't mind a closer examination of the administration's handing of the situation.

“We thought we did the right thing,” he said.

Spitzer also accused Albany County District Attorney P. David Soares of acting outside the scope of his authority. He also accused him of “generalized incompetence” and called Fisch “one more little Pac-Man” participating in a fishing expedition.

During the interview, Spitzer repeatedly interrupted Fisch, at one point cutting him off and saying, “My time is precious, judge. What is your question?”

Spitzer also complained about the “inability of people in Albany to focus on what matters.”

Fisch stood by his investigation and report on Tuesday.

“I think we exercised remarkable restraint in what we did not say,” he said.

Fisch interviewed the former governor during his investigation of the state Public Integrity Commission, which he reported last week unlawfully leaked sensitive information to a Spitzer administration official.

The leak came during an investigation of Spitzer aides accused of misusing state police travel records in an effort to embarrass Spitzer's main political rival, then state Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno.

Bruno, who has since resigned and faces a federal corruption indictment unrelated to his travel, accused the Spitzer administration of political espionage. Bruno also accused the administration of blocking subsequent probes of the travel records scandal to protect Spitzer, who resigned in disgrace last year after he was implicated in a federal prostitution investigation.

Fisch's report resulted in the resignation of Herbert Teitelbaum from his post as executive director of the Public Integrity Commission. Fisch said Teitelbaum made unlawful contact with Spitzer's aide Robert Hermann in 2007 while the commission was investigating the administration.

Hermann resigned Tuesday from his latest position as special counsel to Senate Democrats.