(New York) Inquiry Clears Paterson in Aide’s Case

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Source: The New York Times

Gov. David A. Paterson and his advisers made errors of judgment in their handling of a domestic violence case involving a top aide, but their actions were not criminal, a retired judge who investigated the case announced on Wednesday.

A senior adviser to the governor and a top State Police official tried to discourage the woman who was making the accusations from pursuing legal action against the aide, David W. Johnson, according to witnesses who testified in the inquiry by Judith S. Kaye, the former chief judge of the New York State Court of Appeals.

Mr. Paterson personally contacted the woman, Sherr-una Booker, and urged her to help him contain any political fallout from the episode, Ms. Kaye’s report shows, and even called her after he asked the attorney general to investigate the matter for possible criminal prosecution.

But those contacts did not rise to a criminal charge of witness tampering, the report said, because the governor did not specifically try to prevent Ms. Booker from testifying or making an appearance in court.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/29/nyregion/29paterson.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&pagewanted=all