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Paterson Weighs Race as Top Aide Quits in Protest

Gov. David A. Paterson attended a town hall event held by State Assemblyman Keith L.T. Wright at a community center in Harlem on Thursday. Credit...Michael Appleton for The New York Times

ALBANY — Gov. David A. Paterson’s administration on Thursday faced new revelations about its intervention in a domestic violence episode involving a chief aide, and growing dismay among fellow Democrats about the governor’s political future.

The governor’s top criminal justice adviser, Denise E. O’Donnell, resigned, saying it was “unacceptable” that Mr. Paterson and the State Police had made contact with a woman who was seeking an order of protection against the aide, and that she could not “in good conscience” remain in the administration.

As calls grew for the governor to end his candidacy, Mr. Paterson said he would consult with party leaders over the next few days and reflect on his future.

“I am not suspending my campaign, but I am talking to a number of elected officials around the state, as I would fellow Democrats, to give their opinion,” the governor said at a brief news conference Thursday evening. He added: “I’ve got an open mind about this thing. I want the Democrats to win in November.”

The office of Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo, whom the governor asked on Wednesday to investigate his administration’s handling of the case, released a statement saying that it would “determine if criminal or other wrongdoing is involved.”

The case involved David W. Johnson, 37, an aide and a confidant of the governor, who was accused by a longtime companion of assaulting her last Halloween. The woman told the New York City police that Mr. Johnson had choked her, stripped her of much of her clothing, smashed her against a dresser and prevented her from calling for help.

She was twice granted a temporary order of protection against Mr. Johnson, but she also complained in court that the State Police had been harassing her to drop the matter.

Mr. Paterson also spoke to the woman, in a phone call on Feb. 7, the day before she was scheduled to appear in court to seek a final protective order. She did not show up the next day, resulting in the dismissal of the case.

On Thursday, more questions emerged about the role of State Police officials, who earlier described their contact with the woman as an effort to offer her counseling and let her know of “her options.” Two people briefed on the matter said that Maj. Charles Day, the head of the governor’s security detail, personally contacted her. Such a step is unusual, former and current state officials said, given Major Day’s high position within the department and the fact that the State Police had no jurisdiction in the matter.

Major Day, asked whether he had talked to the woman, paused and said, “You know what, I’m not savvy in the ways of the newspapers, but I can’t comment on an ongoing investigation.”

New information also challenged Mr. Paterson’s claim on Wednesday night that his phone conversation with the woman on Feb. 7 was initiated by her. The woman’s lawyer, Lawrence B. Saftler, said Thursday that she had been called by an intermediary for the governor, who told her to call Mr. Paterson, and that she then did so. The administration did not dispute that account.

Mr. Saftler also disputed the governor’s claim that the call had focused on rumors circulating about the governor’s private life. Mr. Saftler said that the conversation lasted about a minute, that Mr. Paterson had asked if the woman was all right, and that he had concluded by saying, “If you need me, I’m here for you.”

The woman has asked not to be identified because she fears retaliation.

Mr. Paterson did not appear at his state office on Thursday, and in his only appearances seemed weary, his voice hoarse. In a radio appearance in the morning, he said, “I’ll just let the facts come out, and I think that will be the best way for it to work, and it will be the best thing for me.”

He also said that he became aware of the disturbing allegations involved in the case only on Wednesday. But a senior administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the continuing investigation, contradicted that account, saying the governor had been apprised several weeks ago.

The loss of Ms. O’Donnell, a former federal prosecutor widely respected in law enforcement circles, was a blow to the administration. In her statement of resignation, Ms. O’Donnell said she learned of the episode involving Mr. Johnson in January from Harry J. Corbitt, the State Police superintendent. She said Mr. Corbitt told her at the time that the State Police were not involved in the matter.

“It was only last night when I learned from press reports the contrary details, including the involvement of the State Police,” she said.

Mr. Corbitt, in a statement issued on Thursday, said he did not dispute Ms. O’Donnell’s account, but he added, “The conclusions she appeared to draw from these statements were incorrect.”

Ms. O’Donnell also said that any contacts made by the administration with the alleged victim were “unacceptable regardless of their intent.”

“It is particularly distressing that this could happen in an administration that prides itself on its record of combating domestic violence,” she said. “The behavior alleged here is the antithesis of what many of us have spent our entire careers working to build — a legal system that protects victims of domestic violence and brings offenders to justice.”

Kathleen B. Hogan, the Warren County district attorney and the president of the District Attorneys Association of the State of New York, called Ms. O’Donnell an “ethical leader who was committed to improving the criminal justice system.”

Other elected officials questioned why the governor had not asked Mr. Corbitt to resign.

Mr. Corbitt has characterized the contacts between the State Police and the alleged victim as nothing out of the ordinary, and has said his department routinely conducts inquiries after any episodes that may attract media attention.

Mr. Paterson found few defenders on Thursday, and a group of African-American leaders, led by the Rev. Al Sharpton, planned a meeting on Saturday to discuss whether to ask the governor to end his candidacy.

Mr. Sharpton said the group, made up of black elected officials and prominent ministers from across the state, is divided into two camps: one that wants the governor to withdraw from the race immediately and another that believes nothing should happen until Mr. Cuomo has finished his investigation. “There’s vehemence on both sides,” Mr. Sharpton said. “It’s a serious situation.”

Among members of the state’s Congressional delegation, there was skepticism about whether Mr. Paterson’s campaign could continue. Representative Steve Israel of Long Island, a friend of the governor’s, said he had called Mr. Paterson on Thursday morning to urge him to drop out.

“I think it’s become apparent that he should not seek re-election and should announce it soon,” Mr. Israel said. “There’s a case to be made that he can leave Albany with his head held high, having focused exclusively on the crises that confront the state, rather than facing the distraction of a tough campaign.”

Some went further than wondering about the fall election, saying the governor should consider resigning.

“These very serious allegations must be fully and swiftly investigated,” said Representative Nita M. Lowey, a Democrat from Westchester. “And if they are true, the governor should no longer be in office. Aside from the allegations, the political reality is the governor cannot be an effective candidate or official for New York.”

Danny Hakim reported from Albany, and Jeremy W. Peters from New York. David Kocieniewski, William K. Rashbaum and Karen Zraick contributed reporting from New York.

A version of this article appears in print on  , Section A, Page 1 of the New York edition with the headline: Paterson Weighs Race as Top Aide Quits in Protest. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe

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