Major League Baseball

Paterson escaped a perjury prosecution

Published May. 21, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Former New York Gov. David Paterson escaped a perjury prosecution over allegations he lied about his intention to pay for free tickets he was given to Game 1 of the 2009 World Series, the Albany Times Union reported Saturday.

Albany County District Attorney David Soares said that the case, which had been referred by the Public Integrity Commission, could not stand the test of a criminal conviction.

"This determination follows an extensive investigation involving the review of voluminous document and witness interviews," Soares said.

The Commission fined Paterson $62,215 last December for accepting the tickets, after an investigation concluded that his testimony in the matter was "false," citing the fact that his staff and the Yankees organization refuted his claims that he had intended to pay for the tickets.

The fine includes the cost of the tickets -- valued at $2,125 each -- and penalties of up to $25,000 for violating the Public Officers Law.

Paterson, a Democrat, denied he did anything wrong when he received the tickets, and has said that he believed his presence at such a momentous New York occasion was important. He attended the game with two aides, his son, and his son's friend.

He was charged in March 2010 for violating the gift ban under the state's ethics laws by accepting the tickets.