The End Is Coming For New York Governor Paterson; The Straw That’s Breaking The Camel’s Back: Yankees Tickets

The New York State Commission on Public Integrity issued a report today that is likely to end the battle being waged by New York State Governor David Paterson to retain his position as governor until the end of his term. The reason? Yankees tickets. 

According to the report, Paterson attended the first game of the 2009 World Series at Yankee Stadium with his son, his son’s friend, a senior aide, and the deputy director of state operations. The Commission found reasonable cause to believe that Paterson violated state ethics laws by soliciting, receiving, and accepting tickets for himself, his son, and his son’s friend from the Yankees – a registered lobbyist. Moreover, the Commission found reasonable cause to believe that the governor falsely testified under oath that he had always intended to pay for the tickets for his son and his son’s friend, and that before attending the game he had handwritten a check for $850 for ultimate delivery to the Yankees as payment for the tickets, when the governor’s intention was to receive and accept the tickets for himself, his son, and his son’s friend without paying for them, until a press inquiry after the receipt of the tickets caused the governor “to submit a backdated check as payment for the tickets.”
 
Andrew Cuomo, who is widely expected to run for, and become, governor of New York, is investigating these allegations. Paterson will undoubtedly not be able to withstand what is likely to become a roar demanding that he resign from office immediately.