Spitzer, Then Paterson— Now Ravitch?

New York state has many distinctions, and it may possibly gain another—three different governors serving during one normal four-year term. This is something we can do without.

The prospect that governor No. 2, David Paterson, might call it quits before the present term ends on December 31, is becoming more of a possibility every day, as new revelations emerge about his involvement in a domestic violence case concerning one of his top aides.

Eliot Spitzer was the first to serve in the gubernatorial term that began in early January 2007. A little more than a year later, in early February 2008, Spitzer was revealed as a customer of an exclusive escort service. Two days later, he resigned, opening the door of the governor’s mansion in Albany to Lieutenant Governor David Paterson.

Paterson appears to have cleared the way for his possible successor, present Lieutenant Governor Richard Ravitch to become the state’s next chief executive in the strange tale now unfolding. Last July, Paterson felt the need to have a lieutenant governor. Despite there being no legal precedent for a sitting governor to appoint a second-in-command, Paterson defied critics and appointed Ravitch.

Paterson’s pick was eventually given the stamp of approval by the Court of Appeals following an expected court challenge and Ravitch has been presiding over the state senate since then.

Ravitch’s appointment had been almost forgotten last week when Paterson’s shaky status and his decision not to seek a full term prompted some people to start demanding his resignation, since he was already a lame duck.

Paterson, as expected, kept insisting that he still had 10 months left in his term and had no plans to leave. But the latest revelations about his involvement in his aide’s domestic violence case might change his mind.

The case involves one of the governor’s top advisors, David W. Johnson, and a girlfriend of Johnson’s named Sherruna Booker.

Booker accused Johnson of assaulting her during an argument last Halloween Booker eventually went to court to seek an order of protection against Johnson.

It is alleged that the governor spoke personally with Booker when a friend of the governor asked her to call him. She did so the day before she was due to appear in court. It’s also alleged that the governor asked a mutual friend of Booker and Johnson to talk to Booker before her next appearance in court in The Bronx on the order of protection matter.

Booker was also visited by state police before her court appearance, and later complained they were harassing and intimidating her, asking her to drop the charge against Johnson.

Booker did not appear in Bronx Court after talking with the governor and all the intermediaries, and she did not press the complaint against Johnson. The request for the Order of Protection was dropped by the court.

The most important revelation regarding the governor’s alleged involvement was the reported contact with Booker which was made by her and Johnson’s mutual friend—who was also a friend of Paterson—and which was made at the governor’s request.

The Times described this latest and most important development this way:

“These accounts provide the first evidence that Mr. Paterson helped direct an effort to influence the accuser (Booker).”

Similarly the New York Post phrased it this way: “The stunning revelation is the first apparent evidence that Paterson tried to influence the case against his friend, Johnson.”

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has started an investigation into this whole affair; an investigation that Paterson himself requested. Reportedly, some of the key figures have already been called in and questioned by Cuomo and Paterson could be next in line, reason enough for him to cut a deal and resign, rather than leave himself open to some very serious consequences.