Paterson aide causes further trouble

ALBANY, N.Y. (WIVB) - Governor David Paterson has asked the State Attorney General to investigate a brewing scandal within his inner circle.

The role of State Police in a domestic violence case involving a top aide has prompted the resignation of Criminal Justice Commissioner Denise O'Donnell of Buffalo.

O'Donnell's sudden resignation was to the point: "Recent events make it impossible for me, in good conscience, to remain a member of your administration."

The Buffalo native quit her state post as Deputy Secretary for Public Safety amid a brewing controversy involving an aide to Governor Paterson.

Paterson said, "I'll just let the facts come out and I think that will be the best way for it to work and it will be the best thing for me."

The controversy surrounds a domestic dispute involving now suspended Paterson aide David Johnson. The New York Times reports State Police contacted the woman whom Johnson reportedly choked and the Governor himself spoke directly to her. Paterson says she called him. The Times reports the woman then failed to show up at a scheduled court hearing the next day.

John Gambling of WOR Radio asked Paterson, "You did have a conversation with the individual cited in the article?"

"You see, John, I don't want to talk about that because, it just, ya know, those are the things I'm sure the Attorney General will ask myself about and I'm sure they'll ask anyone else, and so, I don't want to step in front of it," responded Paterson.

O'Donnell resigned abruptly because she says: "The fact that the Governor and members of the State Police have acknowledged direct contact with a woman who had filed for an order of protection against a senior member of the Governor's staff is a very serious matter. These actions are unacceptable, regardless of their intent."

Sen. Michael Ranzenhofer (R) of Amherst said, "She has that wealth of experience and you have someone from western New York high up in the administration, it certainly hurts western New York because there's not a lot of western New Yorker's in power in Albany."

Governor Paterson's office had no comment about O'Donnell's resignation, but some members of the State Legislature view it as a serious blow to his candidacy.