Paladino Threatens To Press Charges Against NY Posties

Fred Dicker and Carl Paladino

Carl Paladino warned a couple days ago that the gubernatorial race between himself and Andrew Cuomo was "going to get nastier." And lo and behold, a couple adulterous claims and journalist altercations later, we now have ourselves a regular Nostradamadino. But despite his own forewarnings, last night's incident with Post reporter Fred Dicker seems to have riled up the already riled up candidate. In a ranty statement defending Paladino today, official campaign bull dog Michael Caputo tore into Dicker and the Post. And in the aftermath of the incident, Paladino may file trespassing charges against a team of Post photographers who took "close-range" shots of his love child.

In the screed, Caputo claims that the Post “put Carl Paladino’s daughter in harm’s way, susceptible to kidnapping or sexual predators," singling out Dicker, who he said "has demonstrated his bias in this campaign from the beginning.” The Post's editor-in-chief Col Allen shot back what did you expect: Paladino “should not be surprised by the media’s interest in his families, as he has invited public scrutiny of his personal life by running for governor and speaking openly about his mistress and love child.” Burn.

According to the Buffalo News, the whole mess truly got underway last Friday, when Paladino received a call that a photographer, videographer and reporter from the Post were on the lawn of his ex-mistresses house (those pesky Post photogs!). He hastily had an off-the-record conversation with reporters, telling them to back off, or he would cut off access to his campaign. On Sunday, he was told photographers were back, and snooping around the mail as well. "We tried to deal with this like gentlemen," Caputo said, referring to the off-the-record conversation. Paladino is now threatening to sue.

Allan rejected the notion that it was Post reporters at his house: "We can only assume Mr. Caputo is confusing our photographer with someone else. Mr. Caputo should check his facts before making charges against Post personnel." Caputo and Team Paladino responded in turn: "Fred Dicker is responsible for assigning the photographer to take photos of Carl's 10 year old daughter and I have that on confirmation of two Post employees. I asked Fred to confirm that last night; he lied to my face." As for Paladino's current whereabouts, Caputo couldn't help but get his attack-dog on: "Carl has returned to Buffalo to console his upset daughter. The Post photographers are gone. But will Mr. Dicker, who has no children, publish the photos? That is Carl’s main concern."

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By Ben Yakas in News on September 30, 2010 5:16 PM

Comments [rss]

The Westchester News

Carl Paladino's ego is more important than his daughter's security or his self pride. The man is a loose canon and he thinks he can do and say anything because he has 150 million dollars in the bank, he's Trailer Trash with a capital T. What this election will come down to is this, who has more morals and family values, and as it stands Andrew Cuomo has more of both. Carl Paladino and his aid cronies are nothing more than street thugs muscling there way into the governors mansion. Carl Paladino is not fit for the Governors office and the more the press learns about his private life the more we realize that this man is very dark and corrupt.

The Westchester News.Com

The Man Bat

"Governor Cuomo....Governor Cuomo...."

it's got a nice ring to it.

justthinkin

Not for nothing, but did anyone foresee that it would be a Post reporter that would sandbag the teabagger Paladino? They might want to check the water coolers over at 1211 Avenue of the Americas.

sj

The problem is that Paladino has proven himself to be so full of shit that any accusation he makes has to be assumed to be a lie until evidence to the contrary is presented. He hasn't presented any, so I'll have to stick with the default assumption that he's making shit up again.

John L

Paladino is a dick but they shouldn't be trying to take a picture of his illegitimate daughter. Leave the kids out of it, we know the girl exists, it's not like he's denying her so we don't need pictures of what she looks like and the little girl deserves her privacy. However, Paladino handled it wrong, as usual, he resorted to threats of violence and that's uncalled for and unbecoming of a man who wants to lead this state.

Two wrongs don't make a right.

l3iodeez

There is no evidence the photo was even taken by the Post (or at all). Just Paladino's say-so. You'll have to forgive me if I don't buy it.

Wza

Honeymoon over between the Tea Party and the Post?

Spirit of 76

With apologies to the old Jim Carrey movie, this looks like a case of dick and Dicker.

John_Matrix

this fucking guy paladino is such a dead-eyed nutjob. that's the best the ny republicans could come up with?

personagratin

Is it just me, or is it stupid to piss off the Post?

l3iodeez

@ ides

Agreed. The post is a rag. But where are these photo? They haven't been printed, and who knows if they actually exist? This is clearly hot air to distract from the fact that Paladino has no real policies.

Rockuboff

Does he not have the "cojones" to put up with the press? I think so.

JenChungsBaby

Somewhere Andrew Cuomo is laughing his ass off.

ides_of_march

No matter what you think of Paladino, if you think it's acceptable for photographers to stand outside the bedroom window of a ten year old girl and take pictures, you are sick.

jaycjay

Outside the bedroom window? I haven't read every article about this, but I haven't seen that accusation made. The only description I've seen of where the photographers supposedly were is "on the front lawn."

ktinnyc

Someone has a very active imagination...

neuroradical

@ides

I agree with you if Paladino's claims about the photographers are true, but at the moment it looks to me like he got caught asking to provide evidence to back up some of his off the wall claims, so he freaked out and starting spouting more off the wall claims.