Paterson suspends controversial aide

ALBANY - Gov. David A. Paterson Wednesday night suspended a confidant without pay and requested that Attorney General Andrew Cuomo investigate his administration's handling of an alleged domestic violence case involving the aide.

Paterson's move came after The New York Times reported on its Web site that the State Police had contacted the woman who accused Paterson confidant David Johnson of assault last October. The alleged incident happened at her Bronx apartment, which is in the jurisdiction of the New York City Police Department, not the State Police.

The woman has accused the State Police of "harassing her to drop" her request for a court order of protection, the newspaper said, detailing how the woman had received a visit from a trooper in the weeks following the alleged incident.

Citing the woman's lawyer, the Times said the governor had called the woman early this month before her third scheduled appearance in court. She didn't attend the proceeding, so the case was dismissed.

The lawyer said Paterson never raised the court case in his brief conversation with the woman, according to the paper.

"Serious questions have been raised about contact the State Police may have had with a private citizen who filed a complaint against a member of my staff," Paterson said Wednesday night. "Any allegation of improper influence must be investigated thoroughly and completely."

The governor said State Police Superintendent Harry J. Corbitt had ordered an internal investigation of troopers' contact with the woman. Corbitt told the Times he believed the troopers had acted properly.

Paterson added, "Because of the seriousness of these allegations, and the sensitive role of this staff member in my administration, I am asking the attorney general to investigate the matter to ensure in the public's mind that a comprehensive and independent inquiry has been conducted. Pending the outcome of the investigation, I am suspending David Johnson without pay."

Johnson, 37, of Manhattan, has worked for Paterson since 1999. A Paterson spokeswoman said Wednesday night Johnson was unavailable to comment.

Johnson rose from an intern to handling constituent matters and in October was promoted to director of executive services, earning $132,000 a year.

He was the subject of a Times article last week, which Paterson blasted as unfair. Johnson has not been charged in connection with the alleged incident.