NYT Finally Drops its Paterson Bombshell

[Lunar]

NYT report could be end for Paterson
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0210/33485.html

A new report that New York Governor David Paterson and his state police bodyguards personally intervened in the domestic violence case against a close aide appears likely to end the governor's tottering political career.

Questions of Influence in Abuse Case of Paterson Aide
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/25/nyregion/25paterson.html

Last fall, a woman went to court in the Bronx to testify that she had been violently assaulted by a top aide to Gov. David A. Paterson, and to seek a protective order against the man.

Transcript of Woman’s Testimony About David W. Johnson

From a Nov. 2 Family Court hearing: "I’m glad you’re doing this, because I thought it was going to be swept under the table because he, he’s like a government official, and I have problems with even calling the police because the state troopers kept calling and harassing me to drop the charges, and I wouldn’t."

Paterson asks Cuomo to investigate him in suspended aide's scandal
Dicker
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/gov_to_andy_probe_me_in_aide_scandal_upKB97rmEMHNUjlJlf057L

The Paterson administration was thrown into crisis last night as the embattled governor suspended a top aide -- and asked Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to investigate not only the adviser, but Paterson himself.

[Beet]

What an embarrassment. And to think I ever defended this guy.

[Lunar]

What an embarrassment. And to think I ever defended this guy.

It seems like he is genuinely surprised about this.  This seems to be more on his staff than him IMO.

[Beet]

What an embarrassment. And to think I ever defended this guy.

It seems like he is genuinely surprised about this.  This seems to be more on his staff than him IMO.

The only question is that there is this call that he was personally on between himself and the woman. What was that about? I would love to see him exonerated in this.

[Lunar]

What an embarrassment. And to think I ever defended this guy.

It seems like he is genuinely surprised about this.  This seems to be more on his staff than him IMO.

The only question is that there is this call that he was personally on between himself and the woman. What was that about? I would love to see him exonerated in this.

Well, the governor's office has said that she instigated the call and she has said that it was less than a minute and the governor asked her if there was anything he could do to help her.

But who/what/why/how would she call him personally?  And why would the governor not think it was a big deal at the time?  Only now has he suspended his aide.  I think I would be inclined to suspend any aide who was currently involved in a criminal trial for such a serious charge, and if such a charge was dropped because she failed to show up (something David was surely aware of), does that mean everything goes away?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Ah, so it's a bit bigger than an aide with a "questionable past" after all. Really though all this could do is force him to not run again and make things not really easier for Cuomo since they can't get any easier.

[Eraserhead]

Meh. I basically agree with what BRTD has said.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Steve Israel calls on Paterson to stand down: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/02/25/us/AP-US-NY-Governor.html?_r=1

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I find the description of Israel as "Longtime" as pretty amusing btw. When I saw the headline was I expecting someone from NYC who has been in office since the Stone Age.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I find the description of Israel as "Longtime" as pretty amusing btw. When I saw the headline was I expecting someone from NYC who has been in office since the Stone Age.

Zombie Manny Cellar '10!

[Bo]

Paterson should resign.