Aug. 28 (Bloomberg) -- New York Governor Eliot Spitzer's communications director, suspended more than a month ago for asking the state police to compile travel records that could discredit a Republican rival, will again draw a state paycheck beginning today.

Darren Dopp, an aide and adviser to the Democratic governor for more than eight years, won't immediately return to his old job or to the capitol building, said Jeffrey Gordon, a Spitzer spokesman. He declined to comment on what future role Dopp might have in the administration.

Spitzer suspended Dopp on July 23 after Attorney General Andrew Cuomo issued a report finding that he and other staff improperly pushed the state police to assemble travel records documenting Republican Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno's use of state aircraft on trips that included political fundraising.

The report said Bruno's trips and Dopp's actions weren't illegal. Dopp said he was responding to newspaper inquires, though the report said he started compiling records before any requests were made.

Gordon said Dopp would resume collecting his former $175,000 salary ``for the time being,'' using accrued vacation time. Terence Kindlon, Dopp's lawyer, couldn't be reached immediately for comment.

Because Dopp and Spitzer's chief of staff Richard Baum declined to be interviewed for the Cuomo report, Republicans have said the administration tried to cover up the episode.

The State Ethics Commission and Albany County District Attorney David Soares, a Democrat, are investigating the incident.

Bruno earlier this month described Dopp's actions as an attempt ``to spy on me and smear a political opponent.'' Bruno is the most powerful Republican in the state. The Assembly and all statewide elected offices are controlled by Democrats. The Republicans hold a 32-28 margin in the Senate -- a majority that has shrunk in recent elections.

If Dopp returned to a top position in state government, Spitzer would ``further compromise both the integrity of his administration and the public trust,'' Dean Skelos, a Republican state senator from Long Island, said in a statement.

To contact the reporter on this story: Michael Quint in Albany, New York, at mquint@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: August 28, 2007 09:40 EDT