E-MAIL TRAIL: GORE STAFFER WARNED PAL TO KEEP QUIET ABOUT 'BUSH MOLE!'

The DRUDGE REPORT has learned that it was an e-mail trail that caught a gore campaign staffer in a lie about his knowledge of a possible Gore mole in the Bush campaign.

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Gore staffer Michael Doyne, who reported directly to National Field Director Don Fowler Jr., son of former DNC chair Don Fowler, was suspended this weekend after giving conflicting accounts about the possible mole to ABC NEWS hotshot Jackie Judd.

Doyne bragged to a friend that there was a mole in the Bush campaign who "knew where Bush was going before Bush knew."

Doyne warned the friend in an -email to be "hush-hush" about the mole issue.

ABC NEWS confronted Doyne on Friday and he denied telling his friend about a mole. He also denied receiving any confidential information from the Bush campaign.

Lawyers quickly moved in. Gore campaign communications director Mark Fabiani launched a massive spin cycle. Gore officials prepared a sworn statement for Doyne to sign.

"I am not aware of any 'mole' or Gore sympathizer within the George Bush presidential campaign," Doyne said in his affidavit. "I have not knowingly had any communication or received any information, written or oral, from anyone at the George Bush presidential campaign," he also stated, adding that he was unaware of anyone else in the Gore camp doing so either. "

But just hours after Doyne’s affidavit was prepared, Doyne was asked for comment about an e-mail in which he advised his friend to be "hush-hush"!

Doyne changed his story.

Doyne told ABC News he "didn’t intentionally lie." He claimed he did not remember the discussion or writing the e-mail "because it wasn’t significant."