New York Governor David Paterson Dropping Out Of Race

Posted by | February 26, 2010 11:14 | Filed under: Top Stories


He’s been called the “accidental governor,” having assumed office upon the resignation of Eliot Spitzer.  He’s now under fire for allegedly having contacted a woman who was the girlfriend of an aide, David W. Johnson (pictured, right, with the governor), and who accused Johnson of assault.  New York Governor David Paterson is being accused of inappropriately intervening in the case by calling the woman just before she was about to go to court to get an order of protection.

…just before she was due to return to court to seek a final protective order, the woman got a phone call from the governor, according to her lawyer. She failed to appear for her next hearing on Feb. 8, and as a result her case was dismissed.

Many details of the governor’s role in this episode are unclear, but the accounts presented in court and police records and interviews with the woman’s lawyer and others portray a brutal encounter, a frightened woman and an effort to make a potential political embarrassment go away.

Governor Paterson has claimed that the woman initiated the call.  The woman also says she was pressured by the State Police.

“The State Police contacted me because they didn’t want me to get an order of protection or press charges or anything,” she told the court.

The State Police superintendent, Harry J. Corbitt, said he was told of the episode within 24 hours after it occurred. He confirmed that a state police officer had met with the woman, even though the episode occurred in the jurisdiction of the New York Police Department. He said the visit was made only to tell the woman of her options, including seeking counseling.

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Copyright 2010 Liberaland
By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.

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