Ex-Gov. Paterson finds it ‘suspicious’ that Cuomo needs 14 days to leave office
Former New York Gov. David Paterson has admitted he finds it “suspicious” that his successor, Andrew Cuomo, needs 14 days to leave office after finally resigning in disgrace.
Paterson, 67, told WNYC on Thursday that it was clear Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul was “ready to take over right now” because “she has been aware that this situation could occur since March” — since the investigation began into sex-harassment accusations against Cuomo.
“It was just a little puzzling that they wanted to have that amount of time,” Paterson told “The Brian Lehrer Show” about the disgraced governor’s delay in actually leaving.
“And what they’re going to do with that time … it’s suspicious, I’ll put it that way,” said Paterson, who was governor until Cuomo started his three terms in office in 2011.
Asked if he had any theories, Paterson laughed and said, “No.”
Paterson said the delay was particularly baffling given that Cuomo claimed he was exiting over his “love” for the Empire State and to “let government get back to governing.”
“When you make these types of decisions, for the good of the state, you want to let Governor-in-waiting Hochul start as soon as she’s ready — or says she’s ready,” said Paterson.
Like Hochul, Paterson had been lieutenant governor when he entered the Executive Mansion, taking over from Democrat Eliot Spitzer in 2008 after Spitzer resigned when his participation in a prostitution ring was uncovered.
Paterson said Spitzer’s resignation had been “respectful” and “admirable” compared to the grudging, combative one Cuomo delivered this week.
“Most of his resignation was fighting the case that he’s in now,” Paterson said. “I just think the governor has just not resolved in his mind what’s actually going on yet, and his self-awareness just does not seem to be particularly helpful to him at this particular time.”
Paterson also noted that he had several scandals of his own, including allegations of witness tampering in a domestic abuse case and of soliciting improper gifts of free Yankee tickets.
“I just came out, took responsibility for it and moved on,” he said, comparing it to the way Cuomo “muddled through” his own with confusing explanations and halfhearted apologies.
“All of us know that we have done things wrong many, many times. So when you see someone stand up and take responsibility for it, you may not like what they did, but you respect them,” he said, suggesting it is what his successor should have done.
