Paterson Discusses Past Extramarital Affairs - Is It Really Anybody's Business?

One day after taking office, Gov. David A. Paterson of New York said that he had had affairs with “a number of women,” including one with a state employee.

With his wife standing by his side, Mr. Paterson, 53, expressed regret for past mistakes but said he was coming forward to clear the air and avoid any “innuendo” or speculation that might arise. “I didn’t break the law,” he said, toward the end of his news conference, at the State Capitol in Albany. “I didn’t violate an oath. I didn’t use knowingly campaign funds. I didn’t use state funds at all. I know that. I don’t think institutionally there were any violations here. However, the public wants to know who its elected officials are, and sometimes, even though you are human and you are someone that just has feelings and has faults, there comes a time, perhaps, when you have to tell the public.”