Mr. Paterson seemed intent on conveying an image of confidence and surety at one of the darkest hours of his career.
"I don't have any plans to resign," he said after a nearly two-hour lunch at the Four Seasons. "At a certain point, I will cooperate with the investigations and will be clearing my name."
He continued to push back against reports that have detailed his administration's intervention into a domestic assault case in which a close adviser was accused of a violent confrontation with a companion.
As Mr. Paterson walked into his office in Midtown Manhattan about 2:30 p.m., he said recent reports about the matter were unsubstantiated rumors.
Besides his administration's handling of the domestic violence accusation, which is being investigated by Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo's office, Mr. Paterson faces accusations by state ethics regulators this week that he lied under oath in their investigation of his administration's solicitation of World Series tickets. The case was referred to Mr. Cuomo's office and the Albany County district attorney.
In addition, federal investigators have subpoenaed records from the administration relating to the recent awarding of a lucrative contract for video gambling terminals to a politically connected bidder.
The aide accused of domestic violence, David W. Johnson, hired a new third lawyer on Friday.
In a statement, the lawyer, Oscar Michelen of Sandback, Birnbaum & Michelen, said his client "has always maintained his innocence" and "vehemently denies any misuse of the office or his position."
Mr. Johnson, a senior adviser, has been suspended without pay.
Source: New York Times
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