Heather Grossmann
DNAinfo News Editor
MANHATTAN — Another key player in Gov. David Paterson’s administration resigned Wednesday afternoon as scandal continues to plague the governor.
Paterson’s press secretary, Marissa Shorenstein, follows a string of recent departures from the governor’s administration amid revelations of his involvement in a top aide's domestic abuse scandal and the Commission on Public Integrity's finding that he lied under oath about accepting free Yankees tickets.
“Due to the circumstances that have led to my unwitting involvement in recent news stories, I can no longer do my job effectively," Shorenstein's resignation statement reads.
"Throughout my career I have performed my duties professionally and with integrity, basing my actions on what I believed to be true at the time."
Shorenstein is one of the staff members Paterson is accused of directing to contact Sherr-Una Booker, aide David Johnson's alleged domestic abuse victim, to request that she back off the criminal a case against Johnson.
Booker accused Johnson of choking her on Halloween night 2009, throwing her against a mirror and preventing her from calling for help, according to reports.
Paterson’s director of communications, Peter Kauffmann, resigned two weeks ago, saying, “Unfortunately, as recent developments have come to light, I cannot in good conscience continue in my current position.”
New York State Police Chief Harry Corbitt also resigned earlier this month, as did Deputy Secretary for Public Safety Denise O’Donnell, who cited the scandal in her resignation letter.
Morgan Hook, Paterson's upstate press secretary, was promoted Wednesday to director of communications.
