More icky stuff about Paterson. It's getting hard to keep up.

[cali]

Paterson Broke Ethics Law on Receiving Gifts, Panel Charges
By NICHOLAS CONFESSORE and DAVID M. HALBFINGER
Published: March 3, 2010

Gov. David A. Paterson violated state ethics laws when he secured free tickets to the opening game of the World Series from the Yankees last fall for himself and others, the New York State Commission on Public Integrity charged on Wednesday. The accusation came as the governor, already mired in scandal, met with his cabinet and insisted he would stay in office.


In addition to violating the state’s ban on gifts to public officials, Mr. Paterson falsely testified under oath that he had intended to pay for the tickets for his son and his son’s friend, according to the commission. Mr. Paterson had never intended to pay for the tickets, the commission determined, and did so only after inquiries from the news media, after which he submitted a backdated check as payment.

The commission has referred the case to the Albany County district attorney, P. David Soares, as well as to Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo, for further investigation. Mr. Cuomo is already investigating Mr. Paterson’s suspected role in trying to suppress a domestic-violence case involving a close aide, David W. Johnson.

Mr. Johnson also attended the World Series game in question and was involved in soliciting the tickets from Yankees officials. The tickets, with a face value of $425 each, were for seats a few rows behind home plate.

<snip>

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/04/nyregion/04paterson.html?hp&emc=na

[closeupready]

1. Just makes me sad.

Things not looking good for him, and he's done so much good otherwise. But if he needs to go, he needs to go, and I hope this all gets resolved well, for everyone.

[hlthe2b]

8. Really? What good has he done?

Seriously. I haven't heard any hints of his having been a good governor. Please do explain.

[gateley]

2. Although this has always happened in politics, I'm surprised any politicians today

risk it because it ALWAYS seems to come to light. Paterson, and others, should be aware of that and act accordingly.

[brooklynite]

3. This is actually NOT the bad part...

he's alleged to have lied to the Commission about paying for the tickets when they investigated the matter and back-dated the payment check.

[LiberalFighter]

4. I'm wondering how the checks match up with check number and date?

Can we guess that the check number falls somewhere close to the date it was actually written?

[LiberalFighter]

5. If he is totally blind in one eye and severely in the other eye...

Why would he want to attend a baseball game?

[Joanie Baloney]

9. He's just preparing...

His next gig will be as a baseball ump.

;)

[Zoeisright]

6. Meanwhile, the economy is still crashing, Americans are dying by the thousands

because they don't have health care, climate change is accelerating, foreclosures are happening by the millions, and people are suffering tremendously.

What we need is a little perspective. I don't give a flying fuck about Paterson's 'ethics' violations. That's nothing compared to the problems that AREN'T BEING FIXED.

[cali]

12. that's a piss poor excuse for corruption.

[hlthe2b]

7. Damn... if Eliot Spitzer resignation regret hadn't kicked in before...

At least he was competent, smart, and comparatively very ethical (when his trouser monster wasn't in control).

[NNadir]

10. He needs to go. He's going into Blogo territory or beyond. It's not good for NY, good for our

party or good for our ethics or good for our country.

Spitzer had the integrity to leave over much less.

[Bitwit1234]

11. Stuff like that is what the took Dixon the Baltimore Mayor to court

and threw her out. why doesn't NY state get rid of him or at least take him to court. That way Cuomo could file for governor.