Paterson Aide Forged Gov's Signature on Check to Yankees

Governor Paterson's controversial right-hand man, David Johnson, appears to have amateurishly forged his boss's signature on a back-dated check for World Series Yankees tickets last year. Yesterday the Commission on Public Integrity accused Paterson of violating the "public officers law" when he personally solicited tickets to the game, and then lying about it under oath. State law prohibits officials in the executive branch from soliciting or accepting gifts of more than nominal value from any lobbyist if it could be intended to sway the official. (The Yankees were registered to lobby Paterson at the time.) Now prosecutors have been asked to determine if criminal charges should be brought against the governor.

"It’s one thing to run afoul of the gift ban, a civil matter at best," Daniel J. French, a former federal prosecutor who served on the commission, tells the Times. "It’s quite another to have lied under oath, which, if proven, is a criminal matter with far-reaching implications to office and liberty." And Blair Horner at the New York Public Interest Research Group, which brought the original complaint to the commission, tells the Times, "I know of no other time where it’s been alleged by what is basically a police agency that the governor lied under oath."

Paterson, who previously tried to abolish the commission, testified that he had always intended to pay for the tickets, and swore that he wrote out a check on the morning of the game, bringing it with him but later giving it to Johnson to mail when "no opportunity arose at the stadium to deliver the check to the team." But the commission found that he only decided to pay for the tickets after a Post reporter started asking questions, and they caught Paterson in another lie because the check was dated for the day before the game. Also, it's obviously the DJ's handwriting.

Paterson's communications directors Peter Kauffmann was also called to testify, and he revealed that after the Post's inquiry, Paterson tried to insist that he was invited the game in an official capacity, and therefore didn't have to pay. But in fact, the DJ had been tasked with arranging the tickets, which was always such a hassle when dealing with the Yankees, as Johnson himself explained in an e-mail to the governor's scheduler: "Yankees the only sports franchise that gives us problems."

When asked yesterday if he had lied to the commission, Paterson simply said, "No." He denied soliciting the tickets, but declined to elaborate on this scandal or the other one involving DJ's domestic violence cover-up, telling reporters, "I would really love to tell my story. The hope for me is that the attorney general's investigation is a place where witnesses have to take an oath and hopefully where the truth comes out." When asked if he had plans to resign, he added, "I think it's better for the state for me to stay here right now."

"The question is, is there a last straw out there somewhere?," Assemblyman Jack McEneny, D-Albany, asked the Times Union yesterday. "With increasing personal distractions, is he able to perform the duties of governor? I think it remains to be seen." And it turns out State Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs went to Albany Tuesday with the intention of asking Paterson to resign, but he changed his tactic after Paterson called him during the drive up to tell him he wouldn't quit. Paterson has no public appearances scheduled today, and frankly we're getting a little antsy—it's almost noon and there hasn't been a fresh allegation against Paterson all morning!

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 4, 2010 10:28 AM

Comments [rss]

melpol

The bagman is a politicians best friend. A gift to office holders is traditionally accepted through their bagmen. It was a mistake by Paterson to accept the baseball tickets personally. He broke the rules and should be more careful in the future.

cleanupnynow

Paterson should listen to many democrats whom are calling for his resignation.

For too long David Paterson has listened to unqualified, incompetent hacks - Dave Johnson, Harry Corbitt, Clemmie Harris, Michael Jones-Bey – this needs to stop now.

First, David Paterson engages in a GROSS ABUSE of office by engaging in obstruction of justice by intimidating a victim of domestic not to press charges, and then tries to up and make the incident just “go away”.

Now we have assertions from the Commission on Public Integrity that he violated to public officers law by taking gifts from lobbyists, and worse that he lied under oath about the matter – PERJURY.

Is David Paterson for real?

David Paterson needs to RESIGN.

GET HIM AND ALL HIS CRONIES OUT NOW.

Kelles

so how do you really feel?

cleanupnynow

Dave Johnson forged Paterson's signature. Are these guys for real?

It is not surprising to those who know David Paterson that he has self-destructed. It has been a known fact that David Paterson and his people are an unqualified, incompetent crew.

Evidence of this incompetence is evident in the “The Democratic Conference: Organizational and Operational Structure Report”, which indicates that Paterson’s Senate Minority office, headed by the highly inept Michael Jones-Bey - whom was more interested in partying and boozing than working - was completely dysfunctional. Not surprising Mr. Jones-Bey got promoted to head the Division of Minority & Women Owned Business Development (DMWBD) at New York State’s Empire State Development Corporation for his partying.

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

What is much more disturbing to many than the incompetence indicated in the report, are the blatant transgressions of law David Paterson and his staff have engaged in - lying under oath/perjury, covering up a domestic violence assault, obstruction of justice, ethics violations.

David Paterson needs to RESIGN NOW and bring Dave Johnson, Mr. Jones-Bey, Clemmie Harris, and Indira with him. Get them off the public payroll.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

The governor said he's giving "more and more thought" to scrapping the Public Integrity Commission and going back to the old system with two oversight commissions - one for ethics and one for lobbying.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2009/05/15/2009-05-15_governor_paterson_may_have_power_to_fire_public_integrity_commission_board_membe.html

Spirit of 76

"Paterson, who previously tried to abolish the commission,"

Where are all the commenters who keep trying to tell us that Paterson is trying to reform Albany? Apparently, ethics reform is wonderful unless it applies to Paterson.

jamieob256

Bloomberg is so much worse than Paterson.

http://gothamist.com/2009/01/07/city_gives_up_luxury_boxes_at_yanke.php

pal

what bothers me is that most of these creeps are guilty of so many things. but paterson is a vulnerable target for the latest stoning by the media and the idiot masses. most politicians are creeps. and the new york times is having financial problems and needs to sell newspapers. i'm not saying that paterson shouldn't suffer the consequences of his actions. we have a mayor who stole an election, uses the apathy of the masses and the weaknesses of our system to get re-elected, uses eminent domain for his broker friends needs, spent over a billion dollars on two useless stadiums, won't overhaul the NYPD which is so messed up on so many levels, the MTA is worse than ever, he's trying to dismantle the public school system, recklessly rezoned the city for luxury condos while ignoring the need for middle to low-income housing.... it goes on and on. it's pathetic. these are issues that too many people are being distracted from these days.

but anyway, the public and the media love to drink from the paterson bloodbath.

Bottomless Chips

A republican does this, the barbs are tossed much harder than at the blind, black governor

I'm not saying whether it's right or wrong, but it's my opinion that that would be the case. That's beside the point, though.

I don't care if the governor is a gay, cancer surviving, humanitarian who does pro bono civil rights work on the side. This is a matter of integrity and trust, and like a crumbling marriage this damage is irrevocable.

Thespis

Really? I think that may be a matter of perception. Each "team" thinks the other gets an unfair advantage -- I'm not so sure that either actually does.

I also don't think that anyone has given Patterson an unfair pass for being blind or black. He's done a crappy job, and people (and the media) have generally said so. They haven't said "you can't accuse him of being incompetent -- he's black and blind!" He's gotten a fair shake, failed, and been taken to task for the failings.

The only question being asked at this point is whether he's so spectacularly bad that he needs to be gone now, rather than after an election. (Everyone agrees that he needs to be gone -- had he run for re-election, it would have been a massacre.) That's not exactly giving the man a pass.

Cautious Pessimist

What do you mean if he was a Republican the barbs would be worse? They're already demanding his resignation. Where else is there to go?

Would they go to his office and arrest him? That happens to nobody, R or D.

Brandon

How politically incorrect is it to make light of the irony that Patterson is catching flack for going to see a baseball game? (wait for it..)

wingedearth

Isn't it kinda standard for aides to sign the boss's name on approved checks, documents, etc., as an administrative convenience? Especially when the boss is blind.

Thespis

This all sounds pretty sleazy. But isn't the real crime that tickets to a baseball game are so expensive that five of them are enough to be a major lobbying gift? We're not talking a Picasso here -- this is three hours watching the Yankees.

That being said, Patterson is pretty much at the point where a loud fart would have people calling for his head -- people want him out, and sooner rather than later. Me...I'm not so sure. Who would be the interim governor, again? Is he, you know, better than Patterson? Sometimes it's better to stick with the devil you know, even if that devil is kind of a sleaze.

Son of Spam

Richard Ravitch is the current Lieutenant Governor, ex-head of the MTA, responsible for turning Bowery Savings Bank around back in the 80s. Union negotiator for MLBPA in the 90s, and more recently, author of the rejected "Ravitch Plan" which would have put tolls on the East River bridges (among other improvements) to ensure a steady funding stream to the MTA.

Generally a well respected man around Albany, but really...who knows anymore.