NY Governor Paterson Faces Criminal Charges: World Series Tickets

by NowPublic Staff | August 26, 2010 at 01:10 pm

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Governor David Paterson Could Face Criminal Charges: Judge Judith Kaye Report

NY Governor David Paterson acted inappropriately and perhaps criminally when he din not completely disclose how he acquired tickets for the World Series Opening Game between the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies.

Paterson obtained 5 tickets for the World Series Opening Game but did not pay for them until after a media inquiry.

The Commission on Public Inquiry said Governor Paterson should be fined more than $90 thousand for various violations.

Judith Kaye said the issue now is a question of the testimony Paterson gave to the Commission.

She said there's a question whether Paterson gave “intentionally false testimony” to the state Commission on Public Integrity about having written an $850 check in advance for two tickets.

Kaye said the perjury issue was “clouded” by the way Paterson's testimony was given, with the entries read aloud to the legally blind governor. If Paterson had personally examined the check used to pay for two tickets, which was not in his handwriting, that “would have been obvious to the governor,” she said

Though Paterson has yet to comment on the possibility of criminal charges has consistently said he has done nothing wrong.

The evidence developed in ... [during] investigation under the Independent Counsel warrants consideration of possible criminal charges by the district attorney, who will make the ultimate decision regarding whether or not charges should be brought."

Under state law, the Albany County DA has the responsibility for prosecutorial decisions regarding crimes and offenses arising in that county.