Tuesday, March 2, 2010

New York Gov. David Paterson could face possible criminal charges if the newest rounds of allegations in the witness tampering scandal are true.

A second New York Times piece appearing Tuesday about his role in protecting his driver and BFF, David Johnson, from charges of domestic violence claims that Paterson, besides calling the alleged victim himself, personally directed two aides to call the woman shortly before she stopped pursuing domestic violence charges against Johnson.

Paterson, allegedly told one of his aides, press secretary Marissa Shorenstein, to ask the woman to say that no violence took place during the incident, according to a Times source.

If true, Gov. Paterson could face charges of witness tampering and obstruction of justice.

The victim, identified as Sherr-una Booker, called 911 and, according to police records obtained by the Times, told police Johnson had “choked her, stripped her of much of her clothing, smashed her against a mirrored dresser and taken two telephones from her to prevent her from calling for help.”