Claim: Rich Baum functioned as Spitzer's top aide and chief of staff and was involved in the Eliot Spitzer political surveillance controversy, also known as the Troopergate controversy, in 2007.
Evidence: He functioned as Spitzer's top aide and chief of staff. Baum was involved in the Eliot Spitzer political surveillance controversy in 2007. The Eliot Spitzer political surveillance controversy (also known as Troopergate) broke out on July 23, 2007 when New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's office admonished Governor of New York Eliot Spitzer's administration for ordering the State Police to create special records of Senate majority leader Joseph Bruno's whereabouts when he traveled with police escorts in New York City.