David Soares | The New York Observer

Soares Looks Beyond Spitzer Probe

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:33:10 -0400

Albany County District Attorney David Soares, whose handling of the Eliot Spitzer investigation has been severely criticized, is hoping that after releasing 8,562 pages of documents, folks will move on.

In a statement from his office, Soares said:
"Today, the two people who began this controversy are no longer a part of our government, but the spotlight on the political theater created is still just as bright as the investigations are wrapping up,...

Soares, Dopp and the Blame Game

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:08:08 -0400

Some of the most significant collateral damage from Eliot Spitzer's implosion involves the reputations of two of his one-time allies: former communications director Darren Dopp (the original scapegoat for Troopergate) and David Soares, the Albany County District Attorney (who is the current scapegoat).

Dopp has been on the offensive trying to clear his name, speaking at length with the New York Times, and -- just this this morning -- providing the New...

Tape in Assemblyman's D.U.I. Case Not Preserved

Fri, 09 May 2008 15:13:37 -0400

Here’s some clarification on what exactly happened to the tape that Assemblyman Karim Camara told me was destroyed.

According to a spokeswoman for Albany County District Attorney David Soares, Albany police did not “preserve” the videotape--according to Camara "crucial" evidence in the D.U.I. case against him--that showed Camara refusing to take a breathalyser test at the police station.

Spokeswoman Heather Orth told me that, as in all D.U.I. cases, the D.A. requested a copy...

Assemblyman Says Evidence in His D.U.I. Case Was Destroyed

Thu, 08 May 2008 14:30:33 -0400

Assemblyman Karim Camara of Brooklyn, who was arrested for D.U.I. last year, says a police videotape related to the case has been destroyed, leaving officials without what he called “the one objective piece of evidence.”

Camara made the comment after Liz and I approached him outside of City Hall, where he was just now attending a rally opposing a homeless shelter in Brooklyn. Camara’s case is among those being cited in recent stories...

Troopergate Investigations Will Be Investigated

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 11:33:32 -0400

The Troopergate investigators are being investigated, according to a statement released just now from the Chairman of the New York State Commission on Investigations, Alfred Lerner.

He said the commission “has renewed its investigation into this whole matter," but added this:"Let me be clear. The Commission is not investigating the events concerning Troopergate; more than enough investigations of the issues surrounding those events have taken or are taking place. Rather, the...

Paterson Seeks Cuomo's Opinion on Troopergate Documents

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:22:26 -0400

Andrew Cuomo’s office just released two letters related to the Troopergate investigation.

The first, dated yesterday, is from Albany County District Attorney David Soares to David Paterson's office, asking that the governor waive privileges to documents related to Troopergate. (Soares is expected to issue his second report on the effort to smear Joe Bruno later this week.)

Paterson's office then sent a letter, dated today, to Cuomo's office asking for a formal opinion on whether the...

Soares Talks About His Opposition to Drug Laws at Fundraiser

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 08:44:32 -0500

Liz and I both showed up for Albany County District Attorney David Soares’ small fund-raiser in Manhattan last night.

Two things stood out:

First, Soares talked about his family’s experience, which put him on the path to opposing mandatory drug sentencing laws, also know as the Rockefeller Drug Laws, an issue he campaigned on when he swept into office, beating a Democratic incumbent.

Lone Candidate Soares Raising Funds for Albany D.A. Race

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 08:46:49 -0500

Here’s an invitation to a November 27 fund-raiser in Manhattan for Albany County District Attorney David Soares.

So far, Soares--who is still investigating the Spitzer administration--is the only person with a registered committee running for the position, and he has $35,343.05 in his campaign account.

Should be interesting to see who shows...

Democrats Do Business in Brooklyn

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 14:58:05 -0500

All the Assembly Democrats will be together in Brooklyn next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday when Sheldon Silver holds his conference meet at the Brooklyn Marriott. (Book your rooms now!)

As one person who's planning to attend explained to me, it'll be the strategy session where the Assembly Democrats actually start crafting their legislative priorities in earnest. (With an expected $4 billion budget gap in a local election year, that list should...

Schneiderman's Fund-Raiser, With Guest David Soares

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 11:57:21 -0400

Democratic state Senator Eric Schneiderman put a hand on the shoulder of the 14-year-old boy dating his daughter, and, in the mocking tone
of a concerned father with plenty of connections, told law enforcement officials at his fund-raiser to "take notice."

Among the people in the audience to witness the performance, delivered at Schneiderman's fund-raiser on Monday at Ron Feldman's Art Gallery on Mercer Street
, was David...

Stern: Soares is a Bit Torquemada, a Bit Three Monkeys

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 13:51:13 -0400

Henry Stern is in with another column about Albany politics, in which he finds fault with Albany District Attorney David Soares for saying that the governor did nothing criminal.

From Stern’s column:

We do not know which is worse: the inquisitor before whom everyone is guilty, like Savonarola or Torquemada, or the Three Monkeys, see, hear and speak no evil, before whom everyone is...

Another Shot at the Soares-Spitzer Connection

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 13:06:17 -0400

Here's the latest from Michael Caputo: a flier which delves into an old court case that is intended to expose a connection between Eliot Spitzer and David Soares, the Albany District Attorney who just cleared the governor of criminal wrongdoing.

It's a reflection of the broader Republican strategy of undermining Soares' findings by highlighting what they say is a conflict of interest.

On a whim, I called Oliver Koppell, the former attorney general who is...

The Soares Litmus Test

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 15:25:59 -0400

So it seems to me that the explanation of findings in the report from Albany District Attorney David Soares' on the Spitzer-Bruno stuff should at least temper, however slightly, the political value of what is a clear legal victory for the governor.

From the report:

"To be guilty of official misconduct, one must knowingly act to "obtain a benefit or deprive another of a benefit," and knowingly commit an "unauthorized exercise of...

Spitzer Speaks with Albany DA

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 15:06:58 -0400

Eliot Spitzer confirmed to reporters in Colonie that he answered questions from the Albany County District Attorney regarding the plan to use state police to create records of Joe Bruno’s use of official state aircraft.

I emailed Spitzer spokeswoman Christine Anderson and asked if the governor spoke under oath. She declined to say.

Republicans are sure to seize on that point if, as expected, the district attorney declines to bring...

Soares Breaks Albany Traditions

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 11:43:48 -0400

The Albany County District Attorney, David Soares, slammed this morning’s Times Union story about his investigation into Eliot Spitzer’s office, saying:
A recent press story that my office planned to negatively critique the Attorney General's report is wholly untrue and we will continue our good, ongoing relationship with the Attorney General.

To date, our assessment of these materials is not complete, and no findings have been made. To...

Elsewhere: Member Items

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 12:14:45 -0500

The spokeswoman for Albany DA David Soares is leaving to work for Congresswoman-elect Kirsten Gillibrand. Serph Maltese may have been approached to join Eliot Spitzer's administration. Cablevision is looking to hire a lobbyist who knows how to make political contributions. State Senator Jose Serrano says it's an "irony" that while some legislators are reluctant to make their member items public, they are unwilling to distribute the money evenly across the...

Azi's Liveblog from Albany

Fri, 22 Dec 2006 04:39:15 -0500

Azi, though on vacation, went to Albany this morning to get in on the fun with Mr. Hevesi. After the jump, I'll be posting his updates as they happen. More or less. Some photos too! UPDATE: The picture above is of Hevesi arriving at the courthouse this morning. More below, obviously. -- Andrew Rice 08:08:34: The scene outside the Albany County Judicial Center, at Stueben and Lodge Streets. Parking's a bitch. 08:11:05: This guy is thinking: "I wish...

His Initials Are A.H.

Thu, 21 Dec 2006 12:31:10 -0500

Just got a cryptic press release from the office of Albany DA David Soares, announcing a press conference for 12:30 p.m. tomorrow, at which he will address "events of the day." Wonder what that could be about? UPDATE: Oops, Just noticed--Liz Benjamin beat me on this. Drat! -- Andrew...

Barrett's Top Ten List for Hevesi

Tue, 12 Dec 2006 10:49:30 -0500

Here's something that should be a pleasant change for Alan Hevesi from his recent press coverage: it's Wayne Barrett's Top Ten reasons not to oust the state comptroller.

1. Hevesi is not a recidivist abuser 2.Hevesi cannot be removed based on speculation about his intent. 3.The commission ignored indications that Hevesi intended to reimburse the state. 4.Removal is inexcusably disproportionate to Hevesi's wrongdoing. 5. The commission's findings are politically selective. 6. The two other Pataki-appointed commissioners are as ethically challenged...

The Morning Read: June 13, 2006

Tue, 13 Jun 2006 04:23:30 -0400

The Times reports that, yet again, Mike Bloomberg is not running for president. The pressure is mounting in the 11th congressional district race. The Sun reports on opposition to Eliot Spitzer's tax plan. The Albany Times Union reports that Albany County DA David Soares is launching an inquiry into the use of member items. —Nicole...

The Morning Read: May 4, 2006

Thu, 04 May 2006 04:37:43 -0400

The Daily News reports that George Pataki may be a liability to state Republicans. The Post reports on dueling Republican fundraisers for Rudy Giuliani and John McCain; and Albany County District Attorney David Soares believes that officials are afraid to reform drug policy. The Times reports on Cory Booker. And the Sun reports on failed attempts to make Tom Suozzi a Republican. —Nicole...

A Reform Store

Sun, 19 Dec 2004 19:00:00 -0500

Reform comes to New York in cycles, and this year was one of those moments when the status quo seemed ripe for change. But with the reformers' usual target-Tammany Hall and its descendants in the urban machine-all but dead in the city, the movement has turned its eyes to Albany, where an unusual combination of forces is forcing change on a state government recently ranked worst in the nation.

Suddenly reformers are everywhere. They've surfaced...