UPDATED/BREAKING: NY Gov. Who Intervened with Woman Seeking Restraining Order Against His Aide Will End Campaign
by Jodi Jacobson, Editor-in-Chief, RH Reality Check
February 26, 2010 - 9:15am (Print)
UPDATED 10:26 am, Friday, February 26th. Politico is reporting that Paterson has decided to drop his candidacy for governor.
Wonder why we continue to have a problem of violence against women and sexual assault in this country?
Here's your answer: People in power who continue to just not get it, and who talk out of one side of their mouths and act out of the other in completely contradictory ways.
The latest example? NY State Governor David A. Paterson. The guy who replaced Governor Elliot Spitzer, who himself resigned in disgrace after it was revealed that he was soliciting sex workers, regularly ferrying them across state lines, all while railing against the evils of prositution.
The New York Times reports that Paterson's administration on Thursday "faced new revelations about its intervention in a domestic violence episode involving a chief aide, and growing dismay among fellow Democrats about the governor’s political future."
This being an administration that "prides itself on working to combat domestic violence."
I am seeing a pattern. How about you?
Back story: David W. Johnson, 37, an aide and a confidant of the governor, according to the NYT, was accused by a longtime companion of "assaulting her last Halloween. The woman told the New York City police that Mr. Johnson had choked her, stripped her of much of her clothing, smashed her against a dresser and prevented her from calling for help."
She was twice granted a temporary order of protection against Mr. Johnson, but she also complained in court that the State Police had been harassing her to drop the matter.
Mr. Paterson also spoke to the woman, in a phone call on Feb. 7, the Times reports, the day before she was scheduled to appear in court to seek a final protective order.
She did not show up the next day, resulting in the dismissal of the case. According to the Times:
On Thursday, more questions emerged about the role of State Police officials, who earlier described their contact with the woman as an effort to offer her counseling and let her know of “her options.” Two people briefed on the matter said that Maj. Charles Day, the head of the governor’s security detail, personally contacted her. Such a step is unusual, former and current state officials said, given Major Day’s high position within the department and the fact that the State Police had no jurisdiction in the matter.
Such a step is not only "unusual," it is coercive, demeaning, and underscores how far old boys clubs will go to protect their own even when others' lives and well-being are at risk.
[And I have to step aside to ask: What is it with the counseling thing? Why is it that men and male politicans feel it incumbent upon themselves to constantly force "counseling" upon women to "make sure they know their options." This happens here, it happens with access to abortion and reproductive health services. It is the ultimate signal that "we can't trust you to know what is best." Given their own track records (and I am thinking here of just the most recent examples of Senators Edwards and Ensign and Governors Sanford and Spitzer), what wisdom is it these men think they are going to impart to women, exactly. When I see the word "counsling" in these contexts now, I see it as a veil for coercion.]
The Times reports that:
New information also challenged Mr. Paterson’s claim on Wednesday night that his phone conversation with the woman on Feb. 7 was initiated by her. The woman’s lawyer, Lawrence B. Saftler, said Thursday that she had been called by an intermediary for the governor, who told her to call Mr. Paterson, and that she then did so. The administration did not dispute that account.
Was that an attempt to build an alibi? "Well....she called me....".
The woman has asked not to be identified because she fears retaliation.
I wonder why. You've got the governor of one of the largest states in the country and his state police calling to "counsel" you about a case against one of his aides. Feeling pressure?
Meanwhile, the lies seems to thicken. "[Paterson] also said that he became aware of the disturbing allegations involved in the case only on Wednesday. But a senior administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the continuing investigation, contradicted that account, saying the governor had been apprised several weeks ago."
The Times notes that the loss of Ms. O’Donnell, a former federal prosecutor widely respected in law enforcement circles, "was a blow to the administration."
In her statement of resignation, Ms. O’Donnell said she learned of the episode involving Mr. Johnson in January from Harry J. Corbitt, the State Police superintendent. She said Mr. Corbitt told her at the time that the State Police were not involved in the matter.
“It was only last night when I learned from press reports the contrary details, including the involvement of the State Police,” she said.
Ms. O’Donnell also said that any contacts made by the administration with the alleged victim were “unacceptable regardless of their intent.”
“It is particularly distressing that this could happen in an administration that prides itself on its record of combating domestic violence,” she said. “The behavior alleged here is the antithesis of what many of us have spent our entire careers working to build — a legal system that protects victims of domestic violence and brings offenders to justice.”
Kathleen B. Hogan, the Warren County district attorney and the president of the District Attorneys Association of the State of New York, called Ms. O’Donnell an “ethical leader who was committed to improving the criminal justice system.”
Other elected officials questioned why the governor had not asked Mr. Corbitt to resign.
I am wondering the same thing. See above: "old boys club."
Mr. Corbitt has characterized the contacts between the State Police and the alleged victim as nothing out of the ordinary, and has said his department routinely conducts inquiries after any episodes that may attract media attention.
Yup. Media attention being the key factor. I mean, he's got to run for governor and all and that is more important than anything, right?
Meanwhile, amidst an investigation into this case by State Attorney General Andrew Cuomos, there are growing calls for his resignation and growing concern about his ability to run for governor.
Ending his campaign could be the best decision he would make this week.
Follow Jodi Jacobson on Twitter, @jljacobson
“It is particularly distressing that this could happen in an administration that prides itself on its record of combating domestic violence,” she said. “The behavior alleged here is the antithesis of what many of us have spent our entire careers working to build — a legal system that protects victims of domestic violence and brings offenders to justice.”
The administration prides itself on its record of combating domestic violence among those people. Certainly they never intended that the laws might be used against someone they actually knew. People like us aren't supposed to be bothered by following this sort of law.
Check out disposition of drug cases -- poor people go to prison, rich people go to counseling.
UPDATED 10:26 am, Friday, February 26th. Politico is reporting that Paterson has decided to drop his candidacy for governor.
While it's sad that New York came this close → ← to having a pro-domestic-violence-when-committed-by-non-dirty-people candidate for governor, it's good to see him scurry off with his tail between his legs. One indicator of social progress is the heap of destroyed political careers of people who have crossed the lines that we and other advocates have helped lay down. Seen any macacas lately?
I just can't believe after sticking it out so long, that all of a sudden he is dropping out the race. This is a witch hunt. He is basically being bullied on every corner, a bull in a ring... I mean what is going on here, now he is bein accused of tampering with a witness????? Look, he's not even close to bein guilty of that its a setup!!! Check this story
This is what happens to uncorrupted politicians
The blog you reference says it's not witness tampering because she was the victim not witness???? That's pathetic!
Concerning the allegations of witness tampering, first, the woman in this case is the victim and not a witness. Therefore, it cannot be said that the Governor tampered with a witness. (There are different laws for intimidating a victim but those involve allegations of physical injury or threats of physical injury – which is not the case here). Also, New York Penal Law states that witness tampering in the 4 degree occurs when a person who knows that another person is going to be called as a witness in an action or proceeding, wrongfully induces or attempts to induce such person to absent him/herself from appearing or testifying at such action or proceeding. In this case, it is alleged that the governor spoke to the woman on February 7. At that time, there was no proceeding or action because the old summons was effectively null and void. A new summons was to have been issued. Also, it’s questionable whether going to Family Court to get a TOP could be construed to be the same as “being called as a witness in an action or proceeding.”
For real???
Then this:
If the reports about the incident involving Johnson on Halloween night are true, the victim should do all that is within her power to make sure that he is prosecuted for this vicious assault.
Ya hello? Can you say victim-blaming? There's a reason she's not "do[ing] all that is within her power to make sure that he is prosecuted for this vicious assault." and it's because of the esteemed Governer. That's why he's out.
