The embattled Patterson, New York’s first black governor and America’s first blind governor, said he will speak to key New York Democrats about his political future but for now he’s continuing his campaign to be elected governor. Paterson rose to governor in 2008, when former Gov. Eliot Spitzer resigned in a prostitution scandal. Paterson also said he will cooperate fully with a state attorney general’s investigation into contact his administration had with a woman who accused aide David Johnson, her boyfriend at the time, of domestic violence. No criminal charges were brought after the Halloween 2009 confrontation at the woman’s New York City home.
“I’m not suspending my campaign, but I am talking to a number of elected officials around the state as I would fellow Democrats to hear their opinions,” Paterson said before a gala of the group 100 Black Men at a Manhattan hotel.
Asked if he would withdraw if fellow Democrats asked him to, Paterson responded: “I am obviously listening to them. I’ve got an open mind about this thing. I want the Democrats to win in November.”
Paterson’s comments came after a day of developments surrounding Johnson and any role the administration and state police played after the Halloween confrontation. Paterson’s top criminal justice Cabinet member resigned over the burgeoning scandal, saying conduct by the state police was “distressing” for an administration that has devoted itself to reducing domestic violence.
Elected officials and other candidates for office clamored for Paterson to end his campaign -- formally launched just days ago -- as the turmoil mushroomed around Johnson.
