Democracy In Albany

Bruno's office declined on Wednesday to respond to questions about the investigation, including whether any Senate staffers have been subpoenaed. No one in the office would say how many staffers have retained attorneys or how those attorneys are being paid.

"We will respond when we are ready," said Mark Hansen, Bruno's spokesman. "You guys do whatever you are going to do, when you are going to do it. We just finished session and we are not going to answer you tonight."

A person involved in the case said several "secretaries" for the Senate majority have retained counsel in recent months. Also, Francis Gluchowski, legislative counsel for the Senate majority, has retained Latham attorney Peter Moschetti in connection with the investigation, the person said.

Gluchowski was formerly counsel to the legislative ethics panel and, in his position for the Senate majority's office, is heavily involved in crafting draft ethics opinions that are forwarded to the panel for consideration, according to people familiar with the process.