N.Y. governor says he has had affairs

ALBANY, N.Y. - Gov. David A. Paterson yesterday admitted to adultery with multiple women while serving in the state Senate - including a state employee now working in the governor's office - though experts doubted he would be forced to resign.

With his wife, Michelle Paige Paterson, beside him, the new governor told reporters that his marital infidelity ended "several years ago" and never involved women he supervised or who were on a payroll he was responsible for. He said he didn't try to secure promotions for them or special treatment beyond helping one woman work from home during an illness.

The Manhattan hotel rooms used for the liaisons were not paid for with tax dollars or "intentionally" with campaign funds, Paterson added.

Still, the second disclosure in nine days of a governor breaking his marriage vows rocked the capital city. There was relief as well because Paterson's transgressions did not appear to involve lawbreaking as did Eliot Spitzer's alleged hiring of high-priced prostitutes. Spitzer resigned in disgrace last Wednesday.

"I betrayed a commitment to my wife several years ago," Paterson said at his first news conference as governor. "I do not feel I betrayed my commitment to the citizens of New York state. I haven't broken any laws. I don't think I have violated my oath of office."

Paterson, a Democrat, said the affairs ended sometime after 2002, when he became Senate minority leader. He said one former mistress, who now works for him, would be given a choice on whether to remain in her job or move elsewhere.

Paterson said: "There were a number of women. . . . I was pretty upset and was kind of just angry, and for a period of time I was using poor judgment."

He also said his wife committed adultery but would not provide details. She acknowledged only going to "counseling" and described marriage as having "peaks and valleys."

The couple, who wed in 1992 and have two children, chose to disclose their mutual infidelity after being questioned Monday by the New York Daily News hours after Paterson was sworn in. Paterson said he would have divulged it had he run for governor instead of being elevated because of an emergency.

"Some of this information was apparently out there," he said. ". . . I didn't want to be blackmailed."

State leaders rallied to Paterson.

"As long as it doesn't interfere with how he's governing, it's nobody's business," said Republican state Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, a Democrat, also came to Paterson's defense, saying: "I think there are people around the state who understand the circumstances. . . . The story should be over."