Paterson "Bombshell" Just PG-13?

AP/Mike Groll

[UPDATES BELOW] Everyone's talking about the supposed "bombshell" article on Governor Paterson that the NY Times is said to be sitting on (except the NY Times). Over the weekend, Paterson met privately with key Democratic leaders, but his campaign spokesman says the "routine" meetings concerned his re-election plans, not the sensational rumors of a drug and sex scandal that some speculate will end his administration. "The governor started making calls two weeks ago to step up his campaign effort and get ready to officially announce his re-election campaign," Fife told the AP. "The calls were—and are—going well... And then look what happens—a coordinated effort to stop him and spread rumors." But one source reveals that Paterson's resignation was discussed.

An anonymous Democrat "close to the situation" told AP there was talk about "whether Paterson would resign or announce he will not run because of the unsubstantiated claims in the whisper campaign surrounding the governor's behavior." Paterson spokesman Richard Fife went on the offensive, calling the rumors "a new low even by the standards of Planet Albany. The circus of the past week entirely fabricated out of thin air and innuendo is an embarrassment for all who have played a role in fueling it." And Baruch political professor Doug MuzzioI observed, "I've never seen the rumor of a story becoming the story as this one has."

Meanwhile, support for Paterson among the city's African-American political leaders appears to be collapsing. Today Elizabeth Benjamin at the Daily News reports on a meeting among big shots at Sylvia's two weeks ago, during which the "What to do about Dave?" question was agonized over. Rep. Charlie Rangel, Sen. Bill Perkins, former state Controller Carl McCall, and other lawmakers were in attendance. "People were concerned about the fact that you could have a new governor, and nobody helped him get there from our community," Benjamin's source says. "If we stay with [Paterson] until he quits, and he quits in September, we're too late. This is about who's going to be onboard that [Cuomo] owes something to." Even Al Sharpton is being pressured to jump ship.

UPDATE: Politco hears from an anonymous source that Paterson will sit down for an interview with the Times tomorrow.

UPDATE 2:59 p.m.: The rumormongering continues! WPIX says expect the story Wednesday; their source explains it "hasn't run yet because reporters were seeking additional corroboration and because attempts were still being made to have the governor respond to the allegations, which reportedly involve the governor and other women in a possible sex scandal." The latest rumor has Paterson cheating with a woman from Buffalo, which isn't really bombshell material, considering his past disclosures.

And a "ranking member of the legislature" tells PIX News the source of all the salacious rumors is the estranged wife of "an aide extremely close to the governor... Apparently angered over a bitter divorce, she began circulating so-called 'inside' stories about the governor that only his closest allies would know about." Also, Paterson did recently request that State Police leave the Executive Mansion, "but not because he was caught in any compromising position with a woman." Not so reassuringly, a Democratic Party insider insists, "No resignation is imminent...at least not today."

UPDATE 3:30 p.m.: A source close to Paterson tells New York that the Times's "bombshell" story "is PG-13, not XXX. Not to say it won't be problematic, but the Aqueduct situation? That's potentially criminal. On his extramarital affairs, the question is who those people are, and what jobs they've held."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on February 8, 2010 3:10 PM

Comments [rss]

NannyState

So it really was just a milk mustache.

Snoopy

I just heard he had a twosome with Tiger Woods when he played the Buick open up at Winged Foot a while back. It might just be rumor, the source is anonymous and wont release his source until Friday.

The other person in this affair might be Velvet. Again just a rumor I heard.

handsomedevil

Man, those rumors are really swirling with unprecedented swirliness.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

Rumor, he joined Bloomberg to play with "boys" in Bermuda. however, Paterson didn't know they were boys since he can't see.

wobbleSmith

was that a blind joke about kid-touching? that might be poor taste even gothamist comments.

ides_of_march

The democrats never expected Paterson to hold power. As a disabled minority, he was just supposed to give them a two for the price of one deal in the diversity game and do as little as possible as lt. gov.

wobbleSmith

totally. new york is one of those "runs itself" states.

Gothampc

"UPDATE 2:59 p.m.: The rumormongering continues! WPIX says expect the story Wednesday; their source explains it "hasn't run yet because reporters were seeking additional corroboration and because attempts were still being made to have the governor respond to the allegations"

That's what I said in my 12:39pm post.

JenChungsBaby

If the "big story" is just that he had an affair with one woman, or even two, then it's not going to be a big deal. Maybe the Times discovered that he's not capable of running the state?

Rocknrope

We all could be corroborating witnesses to that fact.

Rocknrope

So the tv station that runs the Honeymooners Marathon on Thanksgiving is leading the investigative story on this? Interesting!

Now bring back The Odd Couple at 11pm.

ides_of_march

The Cuomo mob fight dirty and Paterson has something they want.

Wza

Ever notice, whenever someone vows to fight the legislature, there's a scandal soon after?

Things that make you go hmmm..

hotstepper

who gives a shit? with or without him NYS is beat like a crack whore.

dr zippy

That Paterson is a drunken party animal in an open marriage isn't news at this point. Further revelations along those lines, unless it involved something illegal, wouldn't be sufficient cause for him to resign.

eyekantspel

At this point, the rumor itself is the news. It might make sense at this point for the NY Times to step up and confirm or deny that the story exists.

JenChungsBaby

I think this is all a load of crap and that the governor's people are spreading this rumor so that when the actually NY Times profile does run people won't be so shocked by the stories of the governor having sex with the animals at the Central Park petting zoo.

famdoc

I gotta agree here.

This has all the makings of a rumor planted by someone who has a grudge against the Governor, perhaps someone in the camp of his opponent. The power of the internet is that an unfounded rumor can "swirl" and become a subject for serious journalistic consideration.

Kelles

wow with this big of a buildup, this should be a really big bombshell...like Paterson was really a woman or he's really Riele Hunter's baby daddy!

Gothampc

I'm thinking young girl and he uses the blind excuse to say he didn't know she wasn't of legal age.

TurkeyburgerDLX

You keep recycling your own fucking story, Gothamist. This better be good.

Gothampc

You're obviously new to Gothamist. Recycling their own story is what they do. Don't believe me? Do a search on the batshit crazy dog on the subway lady versus Hasidic policeman story. If you get less than 10 stories I'd be surprised.

Rocknrope

You know how they could prevent the rumor of a story from become the story? By releasing the damn story.

Gothampc

It's a rule in media that bad news is always dumped on a Friday afternoon so that people will forget it by Monday. I bet they are waiting until next Friday (which is a three day weekend) to spill the story.

John Del Signore

That's what politicians do with damaging news, but why would the Times wait to "dump" their big juicy story on a Friday afternoon?

Gothampc

"but why would the Times wait to "dump" their big juicy story on a Friday afternoon?"

Not that it ever mattered to the Times before, but they may be trying to get a source to go on record. These days all you get from journalism is "anonymous sources say..."

They may also be trying to work a deal with Paterson for tax breaks. The Times isn't doing so well financially.