New York's Public Integrity Commission has charged embattled Gov. David Paterson with an ethics violation involving a gift of free Yankees tickets for the 2009 World Series that could cost him nearly $100,000 in penalties.
The commission says Paterson may also have given false testimony in the case now being turned over to the Albany County District Attorney's office for possible criminal prosecution.
Paterson could face a penalty of $80,000 for violating the state gift ban for elected officials. The commission says Wednesday he also violated a prohibition against using his official position to secure unwarranted privileges. That could cost another $10,000 or more.
The commission found Paterson didn't intend to reimburse the Yankees.
A scandal-scorched Gov. Paterson dove back into state business Friday - by ceremonially opening a chain restaurant. At JFK. During rush hour.
For an already under siege Paterson, the planned photo op couldn't have gone worse: He stood beneath a mural depicting a belching dog at the event at the Palm Bar and Grille.
The agita-inducing gaffe came as the embattled guv brushed aside the scandals swirling around him to defiantly insist he wouldn't resign and had "no plans but to finish out my term as governor."
And touting the Palm was important, too.
"I am very honored to be asked to be part of this great opening, the third Palm that has opened on my watch," he said.
More than 30 journalists jammed into the restaurant to chronicle the strange spectacle of an under-siege governor taking time to tout a new eatery, even as his administration was imploding.
"I'm so happy that you've joined me to see how hard I work," he quipped to the throng of reporters as his poll numbers collapsed and the good-government group Common Cause called for his ouster.
Paterson hustled throughout the day to talk about state budget woes and growing New York businesses - signaling that he was trying to transition from the scandalous to the serious.
The Palm event didn't help though, experts say.
"If you're going to make believe you're doing the job, make it look like you're doing the job. He doesn't seem to understand the real job and the ceremonial aspects of the job," scoffed Baruch College Prof. Doug Muzzio.
Still, Paterson's staff rushed to quell speculation about an imminent resignation, scheduling public events in the city on Monday and Wednesday.
During the afternoon, Paterson's chief of staff, Larry Schwartz, delivered a pep talk to demoralized New York City staffers, urging them to focus on the budget and other issues despite the distractions.
Cuomo's office is investigating the guv's talks with Sherr-una Booker, a woman who accused old flame and Paterson aide David Johnson of beating her last Halloween.
After one talk, Booker skipped a court appearance and the case was dropped.
Cuomo is also looking into the Public Integrity Commission's charges that Paterson violated state law by pocketing free Yankees' World Series tickets - and then lied about it.
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) insisted it's time for Paterson to tell the public his side of the story on the "serious" revelations that are becoming a "distraction."
"The governor has to respond to the allegations so that the business of governing can move on unimpeded," Silver said.
