Now Paterson in Trouble for Free World Series Tix, Plus Lying

Speaking of other shoes dropping... As Governor Paterson concluded a rare meeting with at least 50 agency and department chiefs in the Capitol’s ornate Red Room today, he was served with a letter from the Commission on Public Integrity informing him that he violated the "public officers law" when he personally solicited tickets to the opening game of the World Series last year, which he attended at Yankee Stadium with his son and troublesome aide David Johnson. You may recall David Johnson, or "D.J." from such recent scandals as Domestic Violence Silence and DJing Bull.

In addition to violating the state’s ban on gifts to public officials, the commission determined that Paterson falsely testified under oath that he had intended to pay for the tickets. Paterson only paid for the tickets after the infernal media started in with their accursed "questions," and when he did so, the check was deceptively backdated. The tickets, with a face value of $425 each, were for seats just a few rows behind home plate. When asked this morning what he intended to say to his cabinet, Paterson predicted: "That this isn’t an end, this is a beginning."

The case has been referred to the Albany DA and the state Attorney General's office. According to the Times, "state law forbids officials in the executive branch from soliciting or accepting gifts of more than nominal value from any lobbyist if the gift appears intended to sway the official. The Yankees organization is registered to lobby the Paterson administration, as well as the State Legislature, in connection with financing for the stadium." He could be fined a maximum of $90,000.

Despite all this, new Marist poll released yesterday found 66 percent of voters surveyed want Paterson to finish his term, compared to 28 percent who want him to resign. But at the same time, 62 percent don't believe he can continue to be an effective leader. Luckily for him, State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr. had some pearls of wisdom for Paterson yesteray, telling reporters the governor should "do what Pedro does: Report to work; don't listen to and read everything that's said about you; stay compartmentalized; stay focused on the job." Hmmm, taking Espada's advice on surviving scandals... so crazy it just might work!

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

By John Del Signore in News on March 3, 2010 1:52 PM

Comments [rss]

Over the River

Poor New Yorkers. You get rid of a guy who fucks a call girl only to replace him with a guy who fucks the state.

cleanupnynow

As if things could not get any worse for David Paterson – well things have.

The Commission on Public Integrity has informed Paterson there is reasonable cause to believe he violated the public officers law last year when he solicited and accepted tickets to the first game of the 2009 World Series at Yankees Stadium

Worse, the Commission on Public Integrity also found that there is reasonable cause to believe that the governor lied under oath about the matter. This finding indicates that reasonable cause exists to pursue perjury charges against David Paterson.

First, David Paterson engages in a GROSS ABUSE of office by covering up the violent assault conducted by Mr. Dave Johnson, his top aide, upon Mrs. Sherr-una Booker and UNLAWFULLY intervenes to protect Mr. Johnson from accusations of domestic violence by ordering the state police to deter Mr. Booker from going to court.

Now we have ethics violations, and lying under oath – PERJURY.

Is David Paterson for real?

This UN-ELECTED GOV and all the unqualified, incompetent friends and gal pals - - David Johnson, Clammie Harris, Michael Jones-Bey, Gabrielle Turner, Indira Noel, Harry Corbitt – he has placed in jobs need to be cleaned out…GET HIM AND THEM OUT NOW.

The more and more I read of the transgressions by David Paterson and his staff – lying under oath/perjury, the cover-ups, obstruction of justice, ethics violations, blatant lies - the more and more I wish Eliot Spitzer would have just read “The Democratic Conference: Organizational and Operational Structure Report”.

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

This scathing report indicated that Paterson’s New York State 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 Owned Business Development (DMWBD) at New York State’s Empire State Development Corporation, was reported to be more interested in partying and boozing up with staff than working.

Looks like Mr. Jones-Bey learned his dysfunctional ways from his boss.

David Paterson needs to RESIGN NOW and bring his CRONIES with him

Spirit of 76

jles wrote earlier:

Maybe you can explain to me exactly why Paterson is just being crucified across the board. I haven't heard anyone actually say WHY he's been such a "failure". Aside from always appearing like a "victim of circumstance", which is definitely becoming annoying, I feel like he's been the ONE rational voice in New York government. He's stressed the State's need to reign in spending, and as far as I'm concerned, hasn't really done anything WRONG.

Does this answer your question? But hey, felix still loves Paterson. With starrygordon long since silent in Paterson's defense, felix has now become Davey's most ardent and adoring admirer. Paterson can rest easy knowing he has a place in felix's pantheon, among such luminaries as Richard Cohen. If felix likes someone, he must be unquestionably above reproach.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

wth are you taking about? Where the hell do i say I adore him. I said that Paterson had done nothing to comparison to Quinn and Bloomberg and the other slush funds abusers in the city council. Bloomberg created a shell company to funnel money to the Independent Party. I never said Paterson was beyond reproach but he has passed a lot of progressive bills that were ignore by the previous governors including Spither. instead of reacting as the New Joke Post tell you, why don't you do some basic research. Paterson shouldn't resign and should screw the Senate by pushing for term limits and ethics reform and those that vote against it will face an election this year.

The Edge

..So who's your pick to takeover as Gov?

Gotham Extremist

ooops, i didn't see all the post about him being blind already

Gotham Extremist

Yankee game? Isn't the guy BLIND?!

ANGRYGOD11

Paterson is a dead man walking. His career is ending soon. And so the people around him, who know the truth, have nothing to lose by telling the media the truth.

Expect a lot more of these stories.

MT

Can we start looking into the other people in Albany? Maybe we can get rid of a few more of them while we are at it.

legendary

What I enjoy is 66% of voters wanting him to finish his term but 62% of voters don't believe he will be effective. Remove the 28% who want him removed and 1/3rd of those polled want to maintain an ineffective governor for the rest of the term.

We have the government we deserve.

Mr Mel

And the hits just keep on coming.

Stay tuned.

More to come.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

Breaking news: Paterson didn't flush the toilet and left toilet paper on the seat.

GaryK

the ny democrat big wigs are very busy sweeping people under rugs these days. all hail king cuomo. all hail prince schumer. all hail princess gillibrand. all hail emperor bloompig.

Angelheaded Hipster

why does a blind guy go to a baseball game? is that an insensitive question? to feel the electricity in the air? why?

valeriob

Who's on firs... too easy, nevermind.

NannyState

They told him he might get a seeing-eye double?

Rocknrope

Nice one.

Wza

I don't know, I give up. Why did the blind guy go to a baseball game?

*waits for the zinger*

Boogie Down

My first thought too.

theboneranger

to take his son to a world series game.

Greenpoint60

This reminds me of Nixon after Watergate, a new story every day

Rocknrope

"That this isn’t an end, this is a beginning."

the rest of the sentence being "of the end of my career as Governor of NY."

Spirit of 76

No, the rest of the sentence is "of an investigation that will reveal systematic abuse of my authority and an ongoing series of misdeeds on my part."

Cannibal

the only thing great about this asshole is his parody on SNL

theboneranger

i love how everything is about how lazy this horny blind black man is. is this really the best they could do? personally, i prefer my governors to be thieving and mob connected.