Guv: Staff should pay price for Kennedy leak

ALBANY - Gov. David A. Paterson said Monday that he regretted not immediately firing all of his staff who disparaged Caroline Kennedy after she withdrew from consideration for a U.S. Senate seat in 2009.

Once Kennedy bowed out, Paterson aides leaked damaging allegations about her to Newsday and other news outlets. The aides said Kennedy's move was linked to questions about prior tax payments and reporting the employment of household help. They also said Paterson never intended to appoint her.

Kennedy, the daughter of President John F. Kennedy, has not detailed her decision of Jan. 21, 2009. At the time, her aide said she "became aware of a personal situation that she determined was going to inhibit her ability to perform" the job of senator.

The issues raised by Paterson aides turned out to have been resolved years earlier.

Paterson said Monday, "The people who participated in leaking to the media information about . . . [Kennedy], which by the way was false information and gossip - everybody who was potentially involved should have immediately been dismissed."

After the episode, Paterson ended a consulting arrangement with media guru Judith Smith, who sources said coordinated the response to Kennedy's withdrawal. Two press aides left for other jobs later.

Still, Paterson told WWRL radio in Manhattan Monday he should have acted quicker, admitting that criticism of Kennedy produced a public backlash that he never rebounded from. "Caroline Kennedy was insulted and castigated by people who worked for me," the governor said. "It was wrong."

Paterson initially denied authorizing the attacks on Kennedy. However, a month later, he said he had ordered his aides to challenge Kennedy's version of events and they went too far.

A Kennedy spokesman did not respond Monday. She was among 15 contenders to replace Hillary Rodham Clinton, who became Secretary of State. Paterson eventually chose Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-Hudson) for the Senate.

Separately Monday, a Paterson spokeswoman confirmed top aide David W. Johnson was removed from the state payroll last month. He had been on unpaid leave from his $132,000 job since February because of a domestic violence charge.

Disclosure of Paterson's attempts to contact Johnson's girlfriend about the assault led him to drop his election bid.

Johnson's lawyer, Oscar Michelen, said it was "logical" for Johnson to be off the payroll now that state investigations have wrapped up. "This lets him get on with his life," he said.