Paterson Official Resigns Over Aide Scandal

The member of David Paterson's Cabinet charged with overseeing the State Police resigned today after learning of the governor's alleged intervention in a domestic-violence case involving a member of his staff. Denise O'Donnell said she had been misled by the State Police superintendent about the case, in which Paterson and members of the State Police allegedly tried to dissuade a woman from filing an order of protection against David Johnson, a top Paterson aide, the New York Times reports.

O'Donnell said that, upon learning about the Johnson incident, "my immediate concern was what role the State Police would take in the investigation and I was assured by Superintendent Corbitt that the State Police were not involved. It was only last night when I learned from press reports the contrary details," she continued. "For these reasons, I am resigning my position as commissioner of the Division of Criminal Justice Services and Deputy Secretary of Public Safety effective today."