New York, NY —

Republican Senate Majority leader Joe Bruno has distanced himself from the latest scandal - a profanity-laced phone call allegedly made by a Republican consultant to Governor Spitzer's father. WNYC's Elaine Rivera reports.

REPORTER: Bruno quickly accepted the resignation of Roger Stone, who was hired by Senate Republicans. Attorneys for Spitzer's 82-year-old father, Bernard, says a security firm traced the call to Stone's home. The recorded message threatened the elder Spitzer, saying he will have to testify about loaning his son money for his campaign.

ANONYMOUS CALLER: You will be forced to tell the truth, and the fact that's your son's a pathological liar will be known to all.

REPORTER: However, Bruno says the disclosure shouldn't distract from the current investigations into Spitzer aides misusing state police to spy on him.

BRUNO: Did this governor - did the people around him - orchestrate using the state police in a blatant abuse of power to dispose of a political rival?

REPORTER: On his Web site, Stone claims he was at a Broadway play the night of the August 6th call - a Monday. However, the play was not performed that night. For WNYC, I'm Elaine Rivera.