Governor Paterson Will Not Seek Another Term: Sources

[LRG]

In the face of mounting pressure, a burgeoning scandal and calls for his resignation, Governor David Paterson will not seek a second term in office, a top Democratic official told NBC News.

 

He is expected to make the announcement at a press conference today at his Manhattan offices at 3:30. The governor's office and his campaign have been completely silent on the issue.

 

"The governor isn't feeling pushed out," said another person who talked with the governor about his decision and who spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because Paterson hadn't yet announced why he was ending the campaign. "He certainly realizes it's very difficult to do a campaign and govern, and the focus now is on governing and the best interests of the state."

 

But despite the planned announcement, top Democratic officials in Washington told NBC New York that Paterson's plan to drop his campaign for a full term does not got far enough -- and that Paterson needs to step down immediately.

 

Yesterday in a hastily called press conference that followed damning news reports that he contacted a woman pressing domestic violence charges against his closest aide, the embattled governor insisted that is not suspending his campaign, but wavered for the first time, saying he is talking to fellow Democrats "to hear their opinion."

 

"I want to keep an open mind about this," Paterson said, demonstrating weakness for the first time as members of his own party, including the Obama administration, are pressuring him to step out of the race.

 

"I want the Democrats to win," Paterson said, but on his way out of the press conference Thursday night he added that he has "no plans to step down" as governor.

 

Calls for Paterson to abandon his election bid mounted as the state attorney general announced he would investigate whether the administration or state police committed a crime in talking to a woman who had filed a domestic violence report against a top aide to the governor. Hear the woman at the center of the scandal describe the alleged interference in her own words.

 

Paterson's top criminal justice Cabinet member resigned Thursday over the burgeoning scandal, saying conduct by the state police was "distressing" for an administration that has devoted itself to reducing domestic violence.

 

Elected officials and other candidates for office clamored for Paterson to end his campaign — formally launched just five days ago — as the turmoil mushroomed around longtime adviser David Johnson. A police report detailed in The New York Times details a confrontation between Johnson and a woman over her Halloween costume. Johnson alleged ripped the woman's clothes off and slammed her against a dresser.

 

The New York Times reported Wednesday on court papers showing a phone call between state police and the woman. Paterson's office acknowledges he talked to the woman but says she placed the call, and a spokesman for the governor denied anyone tried to keep the woman from pursuing a domestic violence case.

 

The state police said in a news release that they won't comment on any aspect of the case during the investigation by the office of Andrew Cuomo, the popular attorney general whom many would like to see run as the Democratic candidate for governor instead of Paterson.

 

The Paterson administration asked Cuomo's office to investigate the matter, and the attorney general's office said it would look into whether crimes or other wrongdoing were committed. The state police said Cuomo asked the agency not to open its own internal probe.

 

Rick Lazio, a Republican candidate for governor, said Cuomo should tell New Yorkers if any of his staff gave the Times any information for the Johnson story.

 

"Today, you ordered the state police to halt any internal investigation into its role surrounding their handling of this matter for fear that they would protect their own interests over the truth," Lazio said in a written statement. "If you do not disavow any connection to this story the same conflict of interest would be present and any findings of your investigation would be immediately called into question."

 

Criminal Justice Services Commissioner Denise O'Donnell abruptly quit Thursday afternoon, saying state police Superintendent Harry Corbitt had assured her his agency was not involved in the confrontation involving Johnson.

 

Corbitt denies misleading O'Donnell. He said that he told her state police weren't involved in the investigation, not that they hadn't contacted the woman.

 

Paterson's office had no immediate comment about O'Donnell's resignation or on increasing pressure for him to call off his candidacy. Paterson has been resisting calls from fellow Democrats not to seek a full term, and some saw O'Donnell's departure as a sign the administration was tottering.

 

"That's a very serious blow," state Sen. Bill Perkins, a Democrat who represents Paterson's old state Senate district in Manhattan's Harlem neighborhood, said of O'Donnell's departure. "She has been loyal, so the Cabinet, so to so speak, is falling apart."

 

Perkins is among top Democrats who want the governor to end his candidacy for a full term this fall. Paterson was lieutenant governor when Eliot Spitzer's resignation in a prostitution scandal elevated him in March 2008.

 

"What we are learning is unacceptable, and the viability of his candidacy is obviously crippling," Perkins told The Associated Press, calling the reports "very, very serious allegations."

 

"To the extent that he can govern, he can best govern without the campaign and by focusing on the needs of the community," he said.

 

Rep. Steve Israel, a fellow Democrat and longtime congressional member from Long Island, said it's time for friends to be straight with Paterson.

 

"I think it's become apparent that he should not seek election and should announce it soon," Israel said. "And sometimes friends have to speak unpleasant truths."

 

Rep. Nita Lowey, a Westchester Democrat, said that if "these very serious allegations" are true, "the governor should no longer be in office."

 

"Aside from the allegations, the political reality is the governor cannot be an effective candidate or official for New York," she said.

 

Republican Chris Cox, running for Congress on Long Island, also called for Paterson to step aside.

 

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, considered the most powerful official in Albany, said he wants an investigation of the role of the governor and state police in the Johnson matter.

 

"That investigation must address at whose direction and with whose knowledge members of the governor's security detail were acting when they contacted the victim," Silver said.

 

O'Donnell said in a written statement that it doesn't matter to her what was said in the contact with the woman.

 

"The fact that the governor and members of the state police have acknowledged direct contact with a woman who had filed for an order of protection against a senior member of the governor's staff is a very serious matter," she said. "These actions are unacceptable regardless of their intent."

 

The behavior is "particularly distressing" for an administration that prides itself in combatting domestic violence, she said Thursday, adding that she wrote to Paterson that she couldn't "in good conscience" remain in his administration.

 

Johnson, 37, has worked for Paterson for more than a decade, beginning when Paterson was a state senator. Johnson began as an intern as part of Paterson's effort to help youths with arrest records stemming from the crack epidemic in Harlem at the time.

 

The turmoil stems from a Halloween 2009 argument between the aide, David Johnson, and a woman, according to a police report. The woman told police Johnson was angry about her costume, choked her, tried to rip the clothing from her body, and pushed her up into a mirror.

 

New York City Police returned to the home on Nov. 4 on a follow-up visit as part of their domestic violence prevention program. No other incidents were reported. She had no visible injuries and was not taken to a hospital. On Nov. 9, police served David Johnson with an order of protection.

 

Two people familiar with the investigation identified the woman as Sherruna Booker, 40, with a home address in the Bronx. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. No telephone number was listed for her.

 

Her lawyer told The Associated Press in an e-mail that he would have a statement soon but did not elaborate. He declined repeated attempts to reach him by telephone and visits to his office and home.

After hearing of the Halloween confrontation, O'Donnell said, she met with Corbitt.

 

O'Donnell has overseen all homeland security and criminal justice agencies including criminal justice, the Office of Homeland Security, the Division of State Police, the Department of Corrections, the Division of Parole and the State Emergency Management Office, among others.

 

Paid $165,000 a year, she worked on a national investigation that developed crucial evidence against Timothy McVeigh, who was convicted of orchestrating the deadly 1995 bombing of the Oklahoma City federal building.

 

Link: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local-beat/Governor-Paterson-Will-Not-Seek-Another-Term-Sources-85482822.html

[Shortline Bus]

Barring a major scandal for him and Lazio running a great campaign, Andrew Cuomo is more than likely the next Chief of State of New York.

[LRG]

Paterson is basically a lame duck. He was never meant to be governor, and wouldn't have been governor either if Spitzer never stepped down from the sex scandal back in '08. If he were to compete in the run back in 2006 (I paid attention to politics when the polls were open than when they weren't, but since Obama's presidency I have kept up with politics on a regular) his name wouldn't have even made it to the polls.

[Shortline Bus]

Paterson is basically a lame duck. He was never meant to be governor, and wouldn't have been governor either if Spitzer never stepped down from the sex scandal back in '08. If he were to compete in the run back in 2006 (I paid attention to politics when the polls were open than when they weren't, but since Obama's presidency I have kept up with politics on a regular) his name wouldn't have even made it to the polls.

 

 

Irg i could be wrong but i heard rumors that Paterson was put on the ticket by Sptizer not only to get "Black Voters' but most important he was the 'picked' replacement to US Senate by the party bosses, if Hillary Clinton won the race to White House in 2008.

[nel070]

The best decision Patterson ever made, talk about imcompetence and a major disappointment.

[Grand Concourse]

Aside from actually having the balls to try and trim spending to balance the budget, he has to be delusional to expect people wanting him back with such low numbers.

 

I only hope Cuomo doesn't allow spending to get out of control to appease voters.

[nel070]

Irg i could be wrong but i heard rumors that Paterson was put on the ticket by Sptizer not only to get "Black Voters' but most important he was the 'picked' replacement to US Senate by the party bosses, if Hillary Clinton won the race to White House in 2008.

 

True he never had intention of being the Governor Patterson that is .

[Shortline Bus]

This whole past 4 years of the Spitzer/Paterson era once shows why Albany is the most corrupt state government in America. Even beating other sleazy captial cities of Trenton, Springfield, Ill. and Baton Rouge, La.

[nel070]

Exactly Gov Patterson looks like he is guilty of obstruction of justice using the New York State Police as his own personal good squad what a disgrace .

[Shortline Bus]

Exactly Gov Patterson looks like he is guilty of obstruction of justice using the New York State Police as his own personal good squad what a disgrace .

 

 

It's both parties in Albany my friend. Former GOP boss/State Senate Leader Joe Bruno is also a disgrace with taking hundred of thousands in kickback for companies to win bids for state contracts. At height of the Pataki era, Bruno was arguably the most powerful man politically in state of New York.

It's sad since Bruno was a Korean War Hero and a brilliant speaker who could have been Governor.

 

Also do we need to mention members of the Assembly like monseerate and Kevin Parker? And the 'godfather' himself Speaker Shelly Silver.

All of the State Senate and Assembly should be voted out in November, to get a start 'fresh.' However sadly, knowing the idiot voters(no it's not a mistype they are fools imo) will vote to keep most of the the same guys back. Many of them get voted and serve for 10-20 year or more in Albany.

 

So many of the public are at fault too for sending back the same guys to Albany and should not be surprised on how corrupt the state government of New York really is until changes occur.:tdown::mad:

[GojiMet86]

I really want to thank you, but "thanks button" has mysteriously vanished...

[LRG]

I really want to thank you, but "thanks button" has mysteriously vanished...

 

I have the same problem...but do does everyone here. It does that sometimes so no need to fret.

[GojiMet86]

I have the same problem...but do does everyone here. It does that sometimes so no need to fret.

 

(Thanks! button :tup:) I really thought I messed up something.

[nel070]

It's both parties in Albany my friend. Former GOP boss/State Senate Leader Joe Bruno is also a disgrace with taking hundred of thousands in kickback for companies to win bids for state contracts. At height of the Pataki era, Bruno was arguably the most powerful man politically in state of New York.

It's sad since Bruno was a Korean War Hero and a brilliant speaker who could have been Governor.

 

Also do we need to mention members of the Assembly like monseerate and Kevin Parker? And the 'godfather' himself Speaker Shelly Silver.

All of the State Senate and Assembly should be voted out in November, to get a start 'fresh.' However sadly, knowing the idiot voters(no it's not a mistype they are fools imo) will vote to keep most of the the same guys back. Many of them get voted and serve for 10-20 year or more in Albany.

 

So many of the public are at fault too for sending back the same guys to Albany and should not be surprised on how corrupt the state government of New York really is until changes occur.:tdown::mad:

 

Like Ed Koch said " throw the bums out" seems to fit this situation. Albany needs a laxative to flush the whole corrupt system out and get a fresh start.

[Shortline Bus]

Like Ed Koch said " throw the bums out" seems to fit this situation. Albany needs a laxative to flush the whole corrupt system out and get a fresh start.

 

Albany is like the Al Capone era in Chicago, it so corrupt its funny and amazing like a hollywood movie.:eek:

 

It's seems that Albany is also in a time wrap with party bosses/kickbacks as well just like in the early years of the 20th Century with Tammany Hall as well.

[nel070]

Yes its very unfortunate that Albany is for sale to the highest bidder.

[CPBO]

Thank got bobble head is not running again......even if this guy ran again I didn't see him gettting re-elected anyway......

[Princelex]

The sooner David Patterson leaves office, the better. He's a hot mess that has helped cause more chaos and disorder than before and if he resigned right now, I'd be super happy. He needs to take all them nasty people in Albany with him.

[MattTrain]

I hope these "sources" aren't telling lies.

[nel070]

The sooner David Patterson leaves office, the better. He's a hot mess that has helped cause more chaos and disorder than before and if he resigned right now, I'd be super happy. He needs to take all them nasty people in Albany with him.

 

100 percent right he has disgraced the office of governor with his obstruction of justice.

[EE Broadway Local]

Serious?