Paterson's Former Top Aide Testifies in Yankee Ticketgate

Governor David Paterson's former right hand man, David Johnson, appeared yesterday before the Commission on Public Integrity to answer questions about allegations that Paterson illegally solicited free Yankees World Series tickets, then lied about it. The commission alleges that Paterson only paid for the tickets after the media started asking questions, and when he did so, the check was deceptively backdated. It also appears that Johnson amateurishly forged his boss's signature on a back-dated check to cover the tickets, worth $425 each.

Last month Johnson's lawyer said his client was walking into a "perjury trap" by testifying before the commission. It's not known whether Johnson corroborated Paterson's version of how the tickets were obtained; after yesterdays meeting, his lawyer told reporters, "We're not going to make any comment with respect to anything that went on, other than to say that the investigation is obviously continuing." A spokesman for the commission told the Post, "There's nothing in the law that prohibits him from speaking about what he may have said to the commission."

Johnson was all smiles while strolling out of the meeting yesterday. According to the Daily News, "He ignored shouted questions from reporters but stiffened when asked if he had ever assaulted a woman. He quickly resumed walking without answering." Johnson was suspended two months ago after the Times published a series of reports about the governor's alleged attempt to pressure a woman to drop her attempts to get an order of protection against Johnson. Former Chief Judge of New York Judith S. Kaye is now leading that investigation, but Johnson has not yet been called to testify on that matter.

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By John Del Signore in News on April 1, 2010 6:00 PM

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cleanupnynow

Hard to believe that David Paterson would hire a woman beater such as Dave Johnson as his top aide. What in the world were David Johnson's qualifications?

It is so hypocritical for David Paterson to make domestic violence a signature issue of his while hiring woman beaters as his two closest aides. No wonder the NOW and most woman advocates and organizations – his own appointed Kirsten Gillibrand, Nita Lowey among others - want David Paterson to RESIGN NOW.

David Paterson proved long ago that he could not govern. “The Democratic Conference: Organizational and Operational Structure Report” is an eyewitness account of Paterson’s DYSFUNCTIONAL governing nature.

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

This report heavily criticized Paterson’s leadership as Senator Minority leader. His office was criticized for PATRONAGE, LACK OF LEADERSHIP, INDECISIVENESS and INFIGHTING, set against a backdrop of general CHAOS – in other words the office was a ZOO. Those interviewed in the report indicated that its chief of staff the disorganized Michael Jones-Bey had no management skills, and would get DRUNK with staff, often coming in the office with a HANGOVER, and should be fired.

Amazingly, for running such a DYSFUNCTIONAL CHAOTIC office, the disorganized Michael Jones-Bey was hand picked by David Paterson to head the Division of Minority & Women Owned Business Development at Empire State Development Corporation.

His staff and all his friends that he has placed in jobs need to be cleaned out...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.