By Della Hasselle and Jill Colvin
DNAinfo Reporter/Producers
MANHATTAN — Gov. David Paterson could face "possible criminal charges" for lying to investigators about getting Yankees World Series tickets, said a report released Thursday by an independent investigator.
In the report, independent counsel Judith Kaye determined that Paterson gave "inaccurate and misleading testimony" about whether or not he intended to pay for five tickets to the first game of the 2009 World Series at Yankee Stadium. Not paying of the tickets would have violated sections of the Public Officers Law, the report said.
The governor attended the game on October 28, 2009 with his teenage son, a son’s friend, aide David Johnson — who is facing misdemeanor assault charges for an alleged domestic violence incident — and Deputy Director of State Operations Mark Leinung, the report said.
The governor testified on February 2010 that he had always intended to pay for the tickets and had even written and signed a check for $850, which he brought with him to the game and handed to Johnson to give to the Yankees.
Kaye's inquiry, however, concluded that Paterson only decided to pay for the tickets after the game, when a reporter from the New York Post asked whether he had.
"The evidence developed in the [Attorney General's] investigation under the Independent Counsel warrants consideration of possible criminal charges," she concluded, though she said it is up to Albany County District Attorney Soares to determine whether charges would be brought.
Paterson attorney Ted Wells denied the charges.
"The Governor did not lie when he testified about the Yankee tickets, and the report does not recommend the bringing of criminal charges or conclude that the Governor intended to give false or misleading testimony," Wells said in a statement. "We are therefore hopeful that D.A. Soares will ultimately conclude that no criminal charges are warranted."
Kaye was appointed by state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo under an executive order to oversee the investigation.
New York’s Public Integrity Commission is reportedly also calling for a maximum fine of $96,375 against Paterson for the incident.
