By Heather Grossmann
DNAinfo Staff
MANHATTAN — Gov. David Paterson said he was talking to elected officials throughout the state about ending his reelection bid as questions emerged Thursday about his role in a domestic violence case involving one of his top aides.
"I am not suspending my campaign, but I am talking to a number of elected officials around the state...to hear their opinions," Paterson said in a hastily arranged press conference at a midtown Hilton. "I have an open mind about this thing, I want the Democrats to win in November."
On Wednesday evening Paterson asked Attorney General Andrew Cuomo — his probable gubernatorial rival — to investigate claims that the governor and state police intervened in domestic violence allegations against his close advisor and former driver, David Johnson.
The alleged victim claimed that after filing a complaint against Johnson, State Police came to her, requesting she drop her case, the New York Times reported. Her lawyer told the newspaper that the governor had also spoken to the woman on the phone.
Paterson refused to answer questions about whether or not he had spoken to the woman, saying he would leave that to Cuomo's investigation.
When asked how long it would take to make a decision about his campaign, he said he would be talking to Democrats across the state in the next few days.
Paterson's Deputy Secretary of Public Safety Denise O'Donnell resigned earlier on Thursday, effective immediately, because of the scandal.
"The fact that the Governor and members of the State Police have acknowledged direct contact with a woman who had filed for an order of protection against a senior member of the Governor’s staff is a very serious matter," O'Donnell's press release read.
State Sen. Bill Perkins, who has Paterson's former Senate seat, told Politico that he thinks Paterson should drop his reelection bid.
"In the context of all that's going on, as reported in the Times, I don't think that the governor should be running for re-election," Perkins said to Politico's Ben Smith.
Longtime Paterson ally Congressman Steve Israel of Long Island agreed, telling the Associated Press, "I think it's become apparent that he should not seek election and should announce it soon."
State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver issued a statement calling the allegations "deeply disturbing."
"The investigation must address at whose direction and with whose knowledge members of the Governor’s security detail were acting when they contacted the victim, and whether or not any other government officials participated in or had knowledge of any effort to dissuade her from pressing charges..." Silver said.
In the complaint, the alleged victim said that Johnson stripped her of her clothing, smashed her head against a mirror and prevented her from calling for help, the Times reported.
The woman also said that Johnson refused to be served with court papers, the Times said. The case was eventually dropped.
