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New York Gov. David Paterson Fined Over Yankees Tickets
The state Public Integrity Commission said Paterson "knew his conduct was unlawful" when he testified that he he intended to pay for the five tickets to the first game of the series between the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies. Members of his staff contradicted his testimony.
Paterson, 56, attended with two aides, his son, Alex, and a friend of his son.
The hefty fine includes the $2,125 cost of the five tickets and penalties for violating New York's Public Officers Law.
"Even if the governor had performed a ceremonial function at the game, it would not have entitled him to free tickets for his son and his son's friend," the commission statement said.
The ethics panel opened a probe earlier this year when it determined that Paterson only paid for tickets after the news media pushed the issue. The commission concluded that Paterson, a Democrat, had never intended to pay and lied about it under oath. It referred the matter to state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who in turn appointed Judith Kaye, an independent counsel. Earlier this year, Kaye determined that Paterson misled ethics investigators, but the report stopped short of recommending that the governor be charged with perjury.
In a related investigation earlier this year, Kaye determined that Paterson's involvement in a top aide's domestic violence case reflected poor judgment but did not rise to the level of a criminal offense. Kaye wrote then that the governor engaged in "inappropriate conduct" in his contact with the alleged victim but his actions didn't amount to witness tampering or related criminal acts.
Paterson's term expires on Dec. 31, 2010. He became governor when Eliot Spitzer resigned in 2008 in the midst of a prostitution scandal.
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How did Guliani get those primo seats for him and his son when he was mayor?
December 21 2010 at 5:40 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyWorried about free tickets for a blind man that happens to be GOVERNOR!!!!!! omg theres alot bigger things to worry about then this bs.....This guy is the Governor he should get FREE Tickets anyway...
December 21 2010 at 11:05 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyThese are the people that should be kicked out of the government jobs and have their pensions taken away. NOT TEACHERS, FIREMEN, OR THE POLICE.
December 21 2010 at 9:02 AM Report abuse Permalink +2 rate up rate down ReplyWorried about free tickets for a blind man that happens to be GOVERNOR!!!!!! Look around folks,, you can find some REAL BAD STUFF TO GET MAD AT!!!
December 21 2010 at 8:01 AM Report abuse Permalink -2 rate up rate down ReplyOh come on.. He is the governor.. He should get free tickets!!!!!! Do you think N. Y. is in "worse" shape because he received the tickets???????
December 21 2010 at 7:59 AM Report abuse Permalink -2 rate up rate down ReplyThe man after all is the Governor of New York and a Father... the Yankees are playing in the series...he brings his son and and his friend to this exciting event...What is the big deal???I think it is UN American to attack this man so harshly.I think the so called public integrity watchdogs have no soul and should be run out of office for being so incivilized. I am sure I am in good company when I say this.
December 21 2010 at 2:55 AM Report abuse Permalink -1 rate up rate down ReplyYikes... there's about a million other things that should concern theses folks besides some "free" Yankees tickets. He probably could have gotten them free from the Steinbrenners if he wanted them anyway. After all he's the "Gov?" Right? Complementary tickets are given out to a lot of folks. These people "poke" around on little matters while the "government" is burning money by the bushels with "earmarks" and all that jazz on the Federal level - and just about as bad on the State level. Wake up New York! Spending all those people "hours" INVESTIGATING $2,100 worth of Yankee tickets? Whew! CRAZY!!!!! Let the "Gov" go home in peace. Focus on the "big stuff".
December 21 2010 at 2:20 AM Report abuse Permalink -1 rate up rate down ReplyDid you ever notice that when a politician does something wrong or inappropriate they are always found to not have committed a criminal act. He lied under oath & mislead investigators but they stopped short of charging him with perjury,he engaged in " inappropriate conduct" but that did not amount to a criminal act or witness tampering. Ever notice that the same things, if done by someone, else amounts to a whole lot more in the court system. Charlie Rangle did some stuff that most ordinary citizens would be put in jail for, but gee his punishment was to stand before a bunch of other crooks and have someone read a bunch of BS that said " he was a naughty boy". And these are the people we keep electing to govern us, shame on US.
December 21 2010 at 12:23 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyServes him right, all cheaters of all stripes should get penalties a severe as that.
December 20 2010 at 10:33 PM Report abuse Permalink +14 rate up rate down ReplyI would be interested to know if the Governor is capable of watching a Yankees baseball game. The man is supposed to be legally blind and I am just wondering if the Governor can actually view a game.
December 20 2010 at 6:02 PM Report abuse Permalink +15 rate up rate down ReplyHearing the game live is also exciting. Too bad he chose to do it illegally while treating his family and friends. Talk about ending up to be expensive tickets for his ethics lapses!
December 20 2010 at 8:17 PM Report abuse Permalink +10 rate up rate down Reply
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