Here’s a clip from my interview with Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada Jr. on “Capital Tonight” last night, during which he insisted that AG Andrew Cuomo actively encouraged last summer’s Senate coup because he wanted to undermine his then-likely primary target, Gov. David Paterson.

Espada refused to provide any evidence to back up his claim, but insisted I would find ample proof if I could obtain Cuomo’s cell phone records and e-mails from that time (something I’m sure the AG will be oh-so-willing to simply turn right over). Here’s the exchange:

Espada: “You ask me about the coup, yes (cuomo) encouraged the coup because he wanted to weaken David Paterson.”

Me: “But I still don’t hear you telling me how he exactly encouraged the coup. I don’t see any information as to how that happened.”

Espada: “I will be specific about that, I like breaking news with you, Liz.”

“If we get him to voluntarily surrender to you, his cell phone calls during that period, his emails during that period. Just like I have given him tens of thousands of documents that he has requested.”

“I’m not the attorney general, right? But if he had a backbone and respect for the truth, he would challenge what I’m saying now by giving to you, Liz Benjamin, his e-mails, his calls, during that period and then you’ll find out exactly who I’m talking about.”

You can watch the entire interview here.

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