ALBANY, N.Y. -- A prominent political consultant for the state Senate Republicans has agreed to resign following reports he made a threatening phone call to the father of Democratic Gov. Eliot Spitzer.

Roger Stone, who began working for the Senate Republican Campaign Committee in June, denied making the taped call and said he was "set up."

But Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno said the news reports on the allegation "can only serve as a distraction from the real issues -- the abuse of government power, political espionage and a cover up of information."

Bruno said Stone "has agreed to resign and end his relationship with us at our request."