wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

Gov. David Paterson gave misleading answers to investigators questioning how he got Yankees World Series tickets last year. That's the main finding of Independent Counsel Judith Kaye. WNYC's Bob Hennelly discussed Kaye's findings and their implications.

Domestic violence prevention advocates say the recent inquiry into Gov. David Paterson's handling of a domestic violence dispute involving his aide David Johnson highlights common mistakes New York City police officers make when investigating domestic violence cases. 

Here's a key point in Judith Kaye's report about Gov. David Paterson's role in the case of a domestic abuse victim deciding to drop her request for an order of protection against top Paterson aide David Johnson:

Booker testified that prior to speaking with the Governor on February 7 she had decided not to pursue the order of protection against Johnson.

On page 31, the report explains:

Booker testified that she did not realize that she had a court date the following day, and thought that the court date might have already passed. Booker testified that, in any event, she did not intend to go back to court because, among other reasons, Johnson “had left [her] alone” since the incident and she no longer felt a threat.

Booker is now renewing her effort to get an order of protection, saying, "It's the right thing to do."

Just what did Governor Paterson say when he called the woman trying to press charges against gubernatorial aide David Johnson?

Here's a transcript of Paterson's voice mail message to Sherr-una Booker, according to Judith Kaye's report, released Wednesday:

Sherri, this is David. You should see the way they wrote this story. They’re trying to make it look like I pressured you into dropping this court case. Please help me. Your lawyer – his statement makes it sound the same way. Um, I mean – I was trying to find out about the rumors involving myself. You placed the call to me around ten minutes to four on Sunday, February the 7th – it was the day of the Superbowl. And, um, in the conversation, we just talked about the things that – that – you didn’t say anything about me, and I didn’t say about you. Then we went on to talk about other stuff, but – I hope, uh – you remember that I was not trying to make you do anything, and – I hope your lawyer will do something to help me here, because this, uh, doesn’t look good for me, and I wasn’t in this. And this is exactly what they’re after. And I – I was just not in this and didn’t – um, you know – want to play a role in it. And, to be honest with you, I believe you. So – um, anyway, uh – if you can help to clear this up, because it – that portrayal, that conversation – we didn’t talk for one minute, we talked for ten or fifteen minutes. And, um –I did tell you that I was there for you, and you could call me. But I wasn’t doing it to try to trade it for you dropping the ca- I didn’t even know the court date was Monday, to be honest with you. I’ll talk to you later.

The New York Times' Nicolas Confessore reports:

The retired judge investigating Gov. David A. Paterson’s intervention in a domestic violence case involving a former top aide will not recommend any charges against the governor, according to a person with knowledge of the case.

The judge, Judith S. Kaye, the former chief judge of the New York State Court of Appeals, is expected to release the results of her four-month investigation into Mr. Paterson on Wednesday afternoon. Ms. Kaye was asked to take over the investigation in April by Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo, who recused himself from the case.

While Mr. Paterson does not appear to be in further legal jeopardy, the aide, David W. Johnson, may face further charges, the person said. Ms. Kaye will refer evidence regarding Mr. Johnson to the Bronx district attorney’s office, which is already looking into the allegations that Mr. Johnson assaulted his former companion, Sherr-una Booker, on Oct. 31, 2009.