Paterson Claims Innocence, Will Not Resign

In the face of immense pressure to resign his post, embattled New York Governor David Paterson has told reporters that he has no plans to quit, as he doesn’t think that he has "been accused of anything."

Paterson has remained defiantly mum regarding growing questions concerning his alleged intervention in a domestic abuse complaint involving his close aid, David Johnson. According to a New York Times report, the Governor’s office improperly contacted Johnson’s girlfriend, Sherr-una Booker, to try to get the domestic violence case to "go away."

Late last year, Booker called the police and said she had been beaten by Johnson, but later decided not to press charges, creating speculation that she had been coerced into the decision, according to ABC News.

"I have trouble with even calling the police because the state troopers kept calling and harassing me to drop the charges," she told a judge in court transcripts obtained by the news source. Various media reports have indicated that Paterson had spoken to Booker personally.

The fallout from the scandal has been widespread. Three members of the Paterson administration have resigned, including Johnson, and the governor recently announced that he would not run for reelection in November. Still, Paterson claims his innocence.

"I give you my personal oath I have never abused my office, not now, not ever," he declared. "I believe that when the facts are reviewed, the truth will prevail."