State Police Repeatedly Contacted Paterson Aide's Accuser

2008 photograph of Paterson and Johnson by Mike Groll/AP

More disturbing details about the State Police's involvement in an alleged domestic abuse incident concerning a close aide to Governor Paterson. The NY Times reports that the aide, David Johnson, "reached out to the commander of the governor’s State Police detail the day after an altercation with his girlfriend and asked the commander to call the woman, according to a person briefed on the commander’s actions." The commander, Major Charles Day, was authorized by his superior "to contact the woman, the person briefed on the sequence of events said, and Major Day did so on at least three occasions."

On Halloween of last year, Johnson allegedly choked Sherr-una Booker, as well as ripped her clothes off (he was reportedly unhappy about a costume she was wearing for a party) and slammed her into a mirrored dresser; he also allegedly prevented her from using her cellphone and home phone to call the cops.

Booker eventually did report the incident to the NYPD and sought an order of protection from Johnson—but as the legal wheels were turning, she was repeatedly contacted by the State Police (she said she was being harassed) and was even told by a Paterson staffer to speak with the Governor. Ultimately, the case was dismissed, because Booker didn't appear in court.

According to the Post, "Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is investigating how the Bronx woman at the center of the scandal involving Gov. Paterson came to buy a brand-new, pricey SUV shortly before she dropped her domestic-violence case against a top aide to the governor, The Post has learned... A key question for Cuomo will be how Booker, who earns just under $57,996 a year from her assistant director's job at Lincoln Hospital, paid for the 2010 Lexus RX350 herself -- or whether someone else gave her the money to buy the SUV, and why." Apparently Booker settled a slip-and-fall case with her landlord before the alleged abuse incident, so the money could have come from that.

State Police Superintendent Henry Corbitt admitted to the Times that a trooper visited Booker: "He described the visit as customary in episodes that might attract media attention, an assertion dismissed as false by many inside and outside the State Police." Denise O'Donnell, Paterson's cabinet member who oversaw the State Police, resigned over the matter, saying that Corbitt misled her when she asked if the State Police were involved in the investigation; Corbitt maintains that the State Police weren't involved in the investigation (since a trooper just, you know, contacted Booker).

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By Jen Chung in News on February 27, 2010 2:15 PM

Comments [rss]

republicanblack

I just can't believe after sticking it out so long, that all of a sudden he is dropping out the race. This is a witch hunt. He is basically being bullied on every corner, a bull in a ring... I mean what is going on here, now he is bein accused of tampering with a witness????? Look, he's not even close to bein guilty of that its a setup!!! Check this story

http://bit.ly/9A11cW

This is what happens to uncorrupted politicians

drawingablank

This is more an issue of what happens to politicians who don't fit with what the state party leadership want. This is such a non-story any other time and would probahebly be burried on a Friday afternoon, nobody caring one way or another. But because this is an election year and they want him out they will use every bit of leverage they can get to show him the door.

cleanupnynow

David Paterson needs to resign. He has abused and severely compromised his office and can not serve effectively.

For too long David Paterson has used his office, whether it be as head of the Senate Minority, Lt. Governor or as Governor, as an employment agency for his incompetent and unqualified friends, associates, and gal pals – David Johnson, Clemmie Harris, Michael Jones-Bey, Gabrielle Turner, Indira Noel…. This practice needs to stop now.

His staff and all his friends that he has placed in jobs need to be cleaned out as well...GET HIM AND THEM OUT NOW.

This UN-ELECTED GOV needs to go now, before more damage is done and more of the wrong people profit from his office.

The David Johnson episode provides further evidence that David 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 in the New York State Senate 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 highly inept Michael Jones-Bey, was completely dysfunctional. The unqualified and disinterested Mr. Jones-Bey, a childhood friend of Paterson, who is now incredulously Director of Division of Minority & Women's Business Development at New York State’s 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 or gal pal and work for David Paterson you get promoted and protected for such behavior.

TIME TO GO.

Mr Mel

Attn: AG A. Cuomo,

You want to be the next Governor, Senator or possibly even the President? Here's your golden opportunity. Go after all of them, Paterson, his aides, any NYS Troopers involved, and/or any local politicians. Get through to the truth no matter who comes after you (your family included) to go easy on the culprits. The fate of the Empire State now rests with you. Let's see if you're up to the challenge.