By Jesse Liebman -- March
4, 2010
New York Gov. David Paterson, already dealing with scandal, was accused Wednesday of violating state ethics laws when he sought and obtained free tickets to the 2009 World Series and then may have lied about his plan to pay for them, according to a state report.
Paterson could face a penalty of $80,000 for violating the state gift ban for elected officials. The inquiry also charged that Paterson violated a stipulation barring the governor from using his official position to secure unwarranted privileges. That could cost another $10,000. The case is under potential criminal investigation into whether Paterson or anyone else gave false answers to questions by the Public Integrity Commission or backdated a check to pay for the tickets.
The accusation isn't related to the scandal currently plaguing Paterson over contact he and others within his administration had with a woman who accused a top Paterson aide of domestic violence. But the panel said the aide in question, David Johnson, was one of Paterson's four guests, along with Paterson's son and a son's friend, getting tickets for the Oct. 28 World Series game provided by the Yankees.
Four days later, Johnson's then-girlfriend, a woman named Sherruna Booker, told police she was roughed up by Johnson, but she later decided not to press charges. The office of state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is investigating whether Paterson or anyone from his staff or security detail influenced Booker's decision.
The ticket scandal may eventually be more harmful to the governor, considering the timing.
"I, at all times, upheld the oath of my office and never at any point attempted to influence or coerce anyone to do anything they didn't want to do," Paterson told reporters Wednesday, saying he intends to fight the ethical charge.
The governor and his aides, including Johnson, obtained free tickets from the Yankees as part of his job and submitted a letter from Paterson lawyer Peter Kiernan saying compensation for the tickets was not required. But the report states Paterson never performed in an official capacity at the game.
Paterson told investigators that he always intended to pay the $850 for tickets for his son and the son's friend. They were paid for with a post-dated check. The five tickets, three of which were complimentary, were valued at $2,125. The governor paid for them only when confronted by a reporter for the New York Post, the report said.
In the meantime, the governor's Chief of Staff said Paterson was meeting with legislative leaders and staff Wednesday and that the fiscal crisis is Paterson's top priority.
