Paterson penalized large time for accepting baseball tickets

NY Gov. Paterson’s amount of time in office has been checkered by scandal and embarrassment. Former Governor Spitzer loved the ladies for hire too much, and now Gov. David Paterson is captured in yet another ethics scandal. The legally blind politician had no qualms about accepting comp passes for Game One of the 2009 World Series, despite the ethical questions doing this would create. The slip of judgment will cost Paterson $ 62,125, which is around 30 times higher than what the 5 tickets would have cost. Article resource – New York Gov. David Paterson fined $62,125 for baseball tickets by MoneyBlogNewz.

David Peterson displaying how much he adores the Yankees

The game at the Yankee Stadium between the Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies had Gov. David Paterson, 2 aides, Pateron's teenage son and his son's friend in attendance based on the New York commission. It’s clear that Paterson didn't realize how it would look to the public when he abused the power he had like this. It was said by Paterson that he had "always intended to pay for the tickets," although this was proven differently by many other things. This included an independent handwriting expert, the NY Yankees baseball club and by Paterson's staff.

Even if Governor Paterson had presented himself at the game in his official capacity, he would not have been entitled to free passes. The Commission said that "the Governor’s false testimony is … evidence that he knew his conduct was unlawful." A variety of New York State laws were violated within the Commission’s estimation.

Governor Paterson’s fees in detail

A fine was given to Gov. Paterson from the NY State Commission on Public Integrity. It was about $62,125. That’s $2,125 for the passes, $25,000 for violating Public Officers Law §73(5)(a), $25,000 for "violating Public Officers Law §73(5)(b) and $10,000 for violating "Public Officers Law §74(3)(d). Other statutes were considered by the Commission. It wasn't legal to apply it though.

Articles cited

New York Daily News

nydailynews.com/news/2010/02/09/2010-02-09_major_meltdown_in_albany_as_he_fends_off_rumors_of_scandal_patersons_increasingl.html

New York State Commission on Public Integrity

nyintegrity.org/pubs/2010/122010_press.html

Stepping over the line (Note: Video contains adult references)

youtube.com/watch?v=Ir5Cwc_TSlo