First Shoe Drops in Paterson Affair

The first official has resigned in relation to the explosive story in yesterday's New York Times.

The cabinet official who supervises the State Police has resigned in the wake of the reports of the governor’s and State Police’s intervention in the abuse case.

The official, Denise E. O’Donnell, commissioner of the state Division of Criminal Justice Services, issued a statement Thursday after inquiries from The New York Times.

“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,” she wrote. “These actions are unacceptable regardless of their intent.”

Yesterday, the New York Times reported that a Paterson aide, David Johnson, was involved in an alleged domestic dispute that turned violent. After Johnson was dropped, the New York State Police made contacts with the alleged victim in the case after the incident. The case was under the jurisdiction of the New York City police department. The State Police has no jurisdiction however they are in charge of protecting Governor Paterson. Paterson is also under extreme pressure to resign and give up his re election bid.