The New York State Commission on Public Integrity today charged Gov. David Paterson with violating the gift ban of the state’s ethics laws when he secured free tickets to the first game of the 2009 World Series from the New York Yankees.Dum da dum dum.
The commission has asked Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and the Albany County district attorney to investigate whether Paterson or anyone else committed a crime by testifying falsely under oath during the commission’s interview of him and by causing a check to be back-dated.
The commission determined that there is reasonable cause to believe that the governor solicited, received and accepted an unlawful gift and later falsely testified under oath that he had always intended to pay for the tickets for his son and his son’s friend. In fact, the commission alleged, the governor’s intention was to receive and accept the tickets without paying for them until a press inquiry caused him to submit a backdated check as payment for the tickets.
The commission charged Paterson with violating two subsections of the gift ban provisions of the Public Officers Law, each of which carries a maximum penalty of $40,000. In addition, he allegedly violated three sections of the state Code of Ethics, including one that prohibits the Governor from using his official position to secure unwarranted privileges, which carries a civil penalty of $10,000
Granted, this is chump change next to the countless ethical violations committed by his good friend Charlie Rangel, but considering the cloud Paterson's been under and the pressure to resign, he may no longer have anyone left in his corner.
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