Dean Skelos Changes His Tune

Back in January when WNBC 4 first reported he was a target of a federal investigation of his outside income, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos issued the following statement through a spokesperson:

Skelos’ office issued a statement Friday calling the TV report “irresponsible” — and refusing further comment.

“Last night’s thinly sourced report by WNBC is irresponsible and does not meet the standards of serious journalism. Senator Skelos has not been contacted by anyone from the U.S. Attorney’s office. As such, we won’t be commenting further,” said Skelos spokeswoman Kelly Cummings.

That excuse from Skelos - that he had not been contacted by anyone from the U.S. Attorney's office - was always a thin one.

After all, he could be under investigation and not have been contacted by the U.S. Attorney's office.

In any case, he admitted today that he was under investigation when he released the following short statement:

Senate Republican Majority Leader Dean Skelos has broken his silence on a New York Times report published Wednesday that federal investigators are looking into the his dealings and those of his son Adam. 

In a one-line statement emailed Thursday afternoon, Skelos said, “I have and will continue to cooperate with any inquiry.”

"I have and will continue to cooperate with any inquiry."

Quite a change from “Last night’s thinly sourced report by WNBC is irresponsible and does not meet the standards of serious journalism. Senator Skelos has not been contacted by anyone from the U.S. Attorney’s office. As such, we won’t be commenting further.”

Judging by the statement issued today, which is devoid of the contempt the January statement dripped with, Skelos is in serious trouble indeed.