Conciliatory

Conciliatory

ConciliatoryRobert M. Morgenthau, the Manhattan district attorney, and Leslie Crocker Snyder, a former judge, have seemed like bitter enemies ever since their Democratic primary battle four years ago, in which Mr. Morgenthau handily won his ninth consecutive term in office.

But Ms. Snyder apparently tried to extend an olive branch a few months ago in a handwritten note to Mr. Morgenthau. “I regret that any relationship between us has descended to such a poor level,” read the note, dated May 25. “I want to assure you that I hold you and the work you have done in high esteem and I always will.”

But then on Tuesday, in a debate among candidates for the office Mr. Morgenthau is now vacating, Ms. Snyder blasted Mr. Morgenthau’s inaction in the wake of the Eliot Spitzer prostitution scandal and Mr. Morgenthau’s handling of the Plaxico Burress gun case. Ms. Snyder also attacked Cyrus R. Vance Jr., the candidate whom Mr. Morgenthau has endorsed to succeed him. On Wednesday, George Arzt, the public relations man who has been a spokesman for Mr. Morgenthau, released the letter.

“One day she tries to be nice, and the next day she’ll put a spear through your heart,” Mr. Arzt said. “Who’s the real person?”

Ms. Snyder’s camp has long argued that she speaks about Mr. Morgenthau only when asked, and that she challenges him on substantive issues, not personal ones. Eric Pugatch, a spokesman for Ms. Snyder, released the following statement on Wednesday:

“It is sad that a private and personal note has become a political tool for a candidate running to succeed Mr. Morgenthau. Judge Snyder has great respect for Mr. Morgenthau, but he is not running and in the race to succeed him there is a clear choice between someone who spent 35 years protecting New Yorkers and someone who spent 17 years in Seattle making millions defending mobsters and murderers.”

During the debate, Ms. Snyder said that Mr. Morgenthau, Mr. Vance and Mr. Spitzer all had a cozy relationship, “which is all part of the old boys’ network and the establishment.” (Mr. Vance and Mr. Spitzer worked together as assistant district attorneys under Mr. Morgenthau.)

Ms. Snyder went on to say she believed that that relationship “was at play in any decision-making in the D.A.’s office.”

In an interview on Wednesday, Mr. Morgenthau said his office had no jurisdiction over the Spitzer case and that federal authorities had asked his office to stay back. As for the letter, Mr. Morgenthau said, “That’s been her problem – she flip-flops all the time according to the demands of the moment.”

The handwritten note reads in full:

Dear Bob,

I regret that any relationship between us has descended to such a poor level. I want to assure you that I hold you and the work you have done in high esteem and I always will. Any criticisms of “the office” by me have been directed at improving the work you have done, not denigrating it. I deeply regret that this has been viewed as a personal criticism by you, as that was never intended by me. Any one privileged to replace you as district attorney will have enormous shoes to fill and a great tradition to maintain.

Sincerely,

Leslie




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