Wednesday, March 03, 2010

Guv Paterson Broke Ethics Law on Receiving Gifts, Panel Charges

NY Times:

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, the commission found that Mr. Paterson falsely testified under oath that he had intended to pay for the tickets for his son and his son’s friend. The commission determined that Mr. Paterson had never intended to pay for the tickets 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 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.

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