March 18, 2008
Paterson, Wife Each Admit Extramarital Affairs
Photograph of Paterson, with wife Michelle, stepdaughter Ashley and son Alexander, by Mary Altaffer/AP
Just hours after becoming the 55th Governor of NY State, David Paterson and his wife Michelle have admitted to both have extramarital affairs during a rough patch in their marriage. Their joint interview appears in the Daily News, in an article written by columnist Juan Gonzalez.
Apparently the Patersons wanted to preempt any further rumors and speculation about affairs. From the Daily News:
"This was a marriage that appeared to be going sour at one point," Paterson conceded in his first interview Saturday. "But I went to counseling and we decided we wanted to make it work. Michelle is well aware of what went on."In a second interview with Paterson and his wife Monday, only hours after he was sworn in to replace scandal-scarred Eliot Spitzer, Michelle Paterson confirmed her husband's account.
"Like most marriages, you go through certain difficult periods," Michelle Paterson said. "What's important is for your kids to see you worked them out."
Paterson said his affair with one woman started in 1999, lasted two or three years. He disclosed he and the woman sometimes spent time at the Days Inn at Broadway and West 94th Street on the Upper West Side.
But after the affair, Paterson said, "From time to time I used to take Michelle to that hotel" too, when they were trying to revive their marriage--a marriage counselor suggested they do "new and exciting things." plus it was away from the kids and, Paterson pointed out, "only four subway stops from my Harlem office." He also denied the "sporadic rumor in Albany that I had a love child" with another woman, declaring it as "just not true."
It's unclear what the fallout, if any, will be, but this much is definite: He wasn't wiring money to a prostitution ring! And Politico's Ben Smith writes "The general reaction from a quick poll of my New York sources: 'Yawn.' Also: Smart, and tough, of Paterson to get it out now."
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Politicians: Having almost more sex than anyone else you know.
But I have to hand it to the Patersons to just deal with it now.
They were married in 1992. So it was a seven year itch. Could they be swingers? Fake marriage?
Jen,
It's about successful men. Women are attracted to men successful. Successful men feel entitled to getting some action. Even if they need to pay for it. Nothing new. It goes across vocations.
No one cares about the sex. It was the money. And his big fat freaking mouth.
Did anyone see the cover of New York Magazine? Ouch.
that's why we need hilary. You know obama strayed somewhere.
Never mind that Patterson sounds like an idiot savant, at least we witness some of the fruits of miscegenation as evidenced by the above picture...
The blind black dude is getting more ass than me! Congratulations, u can be my govna anyday!
How does he know he cheated? Maybe she just used a different voice.
With Spitzer I didn't care about the sex, it was more about the whole lying and generally being the annoying fake goody boy that he was. Hey if banging more than one person is going to make New York as a state better than I for one welcome our extramarital affair having overlords.
Jen and Crew,
Last week a gothamist commentator remarked how he and his wife witnessed Patterson in the cozy company of a blonde woman at a bar somewehere on the UWS, and it intimated it was seemingly more than platonic. I forget the post, and hope I am correct in what I recall, but I think it is amazing and wonderful to be informed and attuned.
This is not the first time I have read a story or comment from a Gothamist prior to or contemporaneous with a topical news event that truly reveals great 'inside' information. While this is not meant to be an advert for your site, due credit to Gothamist, you, the crew, and your commentators...generally, of course, but especially in light of the recent report of sighting Governor Patterson with some floozy! Now the follow up...where was the driver of 'Governor Phillanderer' during all this???
Days Inn on 94th? The only thing I take issue with is the man's class. If you're gonna taste a little honey on the side, take the lady up to Connecticut and spring for a day spa or something. I wouldn't let my mother-in-law stay at the Days on 94th.
Help Wanted:
High-ranking public official to fill various positions at the state and federal level
Experience preferred, but not essential if implausibly still married to impeached spouse with a record of public service. Requirements include enabling and/or participating in a history of marital infidelity or otherwise corrupt behavior; threesomes welcome. Solicitation of prostitutes and violation of multiple federal statutes a plus. Opportunity for advancement.
This is their business and does not involve my tax dollars or some varying degree of hypocracy, so I could care less.
prostitution is illegal, cheating is not.
both are immoral, but i'll take the latter for a leader.
i find it amusing that patterson later took his wife back to that hotel to try new and exciting things. why didn't his just invite his driver into a three-way?
This is such a non issue. I like Paterson's candor, now let's see if he's a good governor...
Bruno will be the next gov?