NY Times Inquiries Get Paterson To Suspend Aide

2005 image of David Johnson via Azi Paybarah

Did the NY Times's Governor Paterson "bombshell" finally explode? Last night the paper dropped a long article about how a Bronx woman accused her companion, Paterson's longtime aide David Johnson, of abuse—but then abandoned legal action after she was allegedly harassed by state troopers, and received a personal phone call from the Governor. The assault allegedly occurred in the unidentified woman's apartment, which she shared with her 13-year-old son, on Halloween night 2009. The Times had mentioned the attack in their first piece, but now we get the full, appalling reveal:

According to the woman’s account, Mr. Johnson confronted her in their bedroom, choked her, tore her Halloween costume off, pushed her into the dresser and then continued to choke her with one hand. In her account, she screamed for Mr. Johnson to stop and then screamed for the help of a friend who was visiting.
The woman said Mr. Johnson first took one telephone from her to prevent her from calling the police, and then chased her into another room when she went to find a second phone. Mr. Johnson then turned to the woman’s friend and told her to leave, “if you know what’s good for you,” according to the woman’s account.

Johnson was gone by the time the police arrived. Less than 24 hours later, a member of Paterson's state police detail paid the woman a little visit, even though the incident was written up as second-degree harassment, a misdemeanor, and under NYPD jurisdiction. (This security detail, which is 200-strong under Paterson, also carried water for Governor Spitzer to "spy" on then-Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno.) State Police superintendent Harry Corbitt tells the Times such meetings are standard operating procedure whenever a high-profile person was involved in this kind of incident, and insists, "We never pressured her, at least what I was advised; we never pressured her not to press charges. We just gave her options."

The woman made two appearances in Family Court and said, "The State Police contacted me because they didn’t want me to get an order of protection or press charges or anything." Orders of protection are "not considered in effect until they have been served on the person accused of the offense." Johnson was never served, and in court his attorney refused to accept service on behalf of his client. In an editorial meeting with the Times, Paterson had expressed outrage about orders of protection being ignored—in the case of Hiram Monserrate, the former state senator convicted of assaulting his companion.

The day before the woman's February 8th court appearance, she received a phone call from Paterson, according to her lawyer, who told the Times Paterson never mentioned the court case. The call lasted about a minute; Paterson asked how she was doing and told her, "If you need me, I’m here for you." Paterson acknowledges the call took place, but says she called him. Nevertheless, she did not appear in court on the 8th, and as a result her case was dismissed.

In response to the article, Paterson has decided to request an investigation from his likely gubernatorial rival, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. In a statement released last night, Paterson's spokesperson said the Governor will request Cuomo's office to "investigate his administration’s handling of the matter. The governor also said he would suspend Mr. Johnson without pay."

Rumors about the Gray Lady's Paterson-related investigative work reached a boiling point a few weeks ago; the two Times articles since have been a little anticlimactic compared to what was rumored. One explored Johnson's history of allegedly assaulting women (and his growing influence with Paterson) and another about Paterson's apparent laziness. Paterson blasted the Times for the first Johnson story, saying, "He’s not even part of our senior staff—he is a valued and hard-working assistant."

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

By Jen Chung in News on February 25, 2010 9:02 AM

Comments [rss]

kade3000

I don't believe the NY times one bit on Paterson. They always seem to have this inside information thats never truly verified other than here say and innuendos. Yet everyday they seem to have a story about Paterson. But nothing happens. Either he is incompetent or he's not. Now which is it they want us to believe? Either he is a great cover up artist, and totally able to shut people up and move things behind close doors, or he's totally incompetent, doesn't know what he's doing and new leadership is needed...Once again..this smells of Cuomo and his best friend..the NY times

Spook

At first I thought Paterson was being treated particularly unfairly by the silk stocking crowd. Now, I'm really starting to wonder, if he is just not up to the top job.

Helen Thomas knows the score

i didn't see this story as that big of a deal.

so his aide might have done something that wasn't brought to court cause patterson might have influenced her. big wup.

It doesnt bother me as much as his supporting tax on internet purchases. for that he should resign.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

Who will investigate Cuomo? Mr. HUD who raised millions from real estate lobbyists and wall street?

lucy van pelt

...so it is all true? Everybody did predict Paterson's Johnson would be his undoing

Snoopy

His undoing started the first day he took office. The man is incompetent just like Dinkins was.

JenChungsBaby

Just when I thought I had lost all capacity to be shocked by David Paterson's actions he comes up with something like this to prove me wrong.

Mr Mel

Does the Attorney General handle this type of investigation? Let's go Andrew, here's your chance to take the lead.

imperialnetwork

Andrew Cuomo hasn't decided whether to investigate, but he's exploring the opportuni-, er, option, and is keeping all his doors open.

imperialnetwork

Kidding. Cuomo has said he will launch a probe in the matter.

http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/22959/paterson-these-are-disturbing-allegations-wont-elaborate-pending-ags-investigation/#more-22959

cleanupnynow

David Paterson must resign immediately. Criminal charges must be filed against David Paterson regarding obstruction of justice.

According to police records, David Johnson a top aide to David Paterson, choked the women, stripped her of much of her clothing, smashed her against a mirrored dresser and taken two telephones from her to prevent her from calling for help.

It is beyond comprehension that David Paterson would pressure a citizen to drop pursuing an order of protection, especially so against a known women batterer? Doesn’t David Paterson understand the implications of that phone call? Doesn’t David Paterson have any regard for this woman’s safety?

For too long David Paterson has used his office as an employment agency for his unqualified friends and associates. This practice needs to stop.

Paterson is just up not up to the task of governing. He does not have what it takes to govern effectively. “The Democratic Conference Organizational and Structural Report” detailing the workings of Paterson’s office while he was Senate Minority leader is an objective assessment of this clowns ability to manage or more precisely mismanage.

http://www.politico.com/static/PPM110_demreportfinal.html

This scathing report indicated that Paterson’s Senate Minority office, headed by the supremely incompetent Michael Jones-Bey, was completely dysfunctional. Mr. Jones-Bey, a childhood friend of Paterson, who is now incredulously Director of Division of Minority & Women's Business Development at Empire State Development Corporation, was reported to be more interested in partying and boozing up with staff than working.

Wow! You can be a total bozo, ex-felon, or women batterer, but if you a friend and work for David Paterson you get promoted for such behavior.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

Bloomberg used his office to hire his rich friends who know nothing about this city beyond their park ave block.

dadoc

Yeah, just what a victim of domestic violence seeking an order of protection needs the day before a hearing: a visit from the dink's 200-strong protective detail showing up on her doorstep to advise her of her "options" in dealing with one of the gov's cronies. Concrete question: who issued the order to send the NYSP officer to the alleged victim, and who issued the order to issue the order? They don't just "show up". The Gov & head of NYSP are blowing smoke. Show us the written policy, and show us the order. Then try to cover your butts.