The first David Paterson story out of the NYT was about a troubled aide. The second was about Paterson’s awkward and haphazard personal style. The third melds the two, and it actually hits the target:

Last fall, a woman went to court in the Bronx to testify that she had been violently assaulted by a top aide to Gov. David A. Paterson, and to seek a protective order against the man.

In the ensuing months, she returned to court twice to press her case, complaining that the State Police had been harassing her to drop it. The State Police, which had no jurisdiction in the matter, confirmed that the woman was visited by a member of the governor’s personal security detail.

Then, just before she was due to return to court to seek a final protective order, the woman got a phone call from the governor, according to her lawyer. She failed to appear for her next hearing on Feb. 8, and as a result her case was dismissed.

Many details of the governor’s role in this episode are unclear, but the accounts presented in court and police records and interviews with the woman’s lawyer and others portray a brutal encounter, a frightened woman and an effort to make a potential political embarrassment go away.

The craziest part of all of this is that Paterson sought to squelch this embarrassing situation in the MIDDLE of the NYT investigation. Whether you think they engaged in a fishing expedition or not, Paterson might have wanted to take the time not to give the paper something really damning to write about.

Paterson released a statement:

“Serious questions have been raised about contact the State Police may have had with a private citizen who filed a complaint against a member of my staff. Any allegation of improper influence must be investigated thoroughly and completely.
“Superintendent Harry Corbitt has directed the State Police to conduct an internal investigation into this matter. I have full faith and trust in the integrity and ability of the State Police to conduct a thorough investigation.

“Because of the seriousness of these allegations, and the sensitive role of this staff member in my Administration, I am asking the Attorney General to investigate the matter to ensure in the public’s mind that a comprehensive and independent inquiry has been conducted. Pending the outcome of the investigation, I am suspending David Johnson without pay.”

Cuomo, of course, is Paterson’s likely primary opponent. A Harlem state Senator has now called for Paterson to end his re-election campaign. Expect him to just be the first. This looks really bad for him.