Politics on the Hudson

More bad news for Gov. David Paterson today: the state Commission on Public Integrity charged his with violating the state’s gift ban when he got free tickets to the first game of the 2009 World Series from the Yankees last year.

The commission, which Paterson has sought to dismantle, has asked state Attorney General and the Albany County District Attorney to investigate whether there has been an criminal offenses.

The violations come with hefty fines: a maximum penalty of $40,000 for each of the two offenses, plus up to $10,000 for violating the state’s Ethics Code, which prohibits the governor from using his office to “secure unwarranted privileges.”

The commission found that Paterson broke the law when he received the tickets for himself, his son and his son’s friend.

The commission said they found reasonable cause to believe that the governor did not plan—before the game—to reimburse the Yankees for the cost of the tickets for his son and his son’s friend.

The commission said it will pursue additional charges, if warranted.

Section 73(5)(a) prohibits state officials from soliciting, accepting and receiving a gift “under circumstances in which it could reasonably be inferred that the gift was intended to influence him, or could reasonably be expected to influence him, in the performance of his official duties or was intended as a reward for any official action on his part.”  Subdivision (b) prohibits soliciting, receiving or accepting gifts from lobbyists and clients.  At the time, the Yankees were a client listed on the registration of a lobbyist who reported lobbying the Executive Chamber.