Probers eye how woman at center of Paterson scandal got a $40K Lexus before dropping domestic-violence case

By FREDRIC U. DICKER in Albany and DOUGLAS MONTERO and DAN MANGAN in New York

Last Updated: 7:49 AM, February 28, 2010

Posted: 3:21 AM, February 27, 2010

Comments: 8

Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is investigating how the Bronx woman at the center of the scandal involving Gov. Paterson came to buy a brand-new, pricey SUV shortly before she dropped her domestic-violence case against a top aide to the governor, The Post has learned.

Cuomo's inquiry into the purchase of the $40,000 Lexus by Sherr-una Booker is part of a broader probe of why Paterson and the State Police contacted her as she pursued a Family Court case against ex-boyfriend David Johnson.

The probe includes subpoenas for NYPD records related to the Oct. 31, 2009, incident that touched off the scandal, a source said.

Robert Kalfus

'BOOK' VALUE: Sherr-una Booker managed to buy a Lexus SUV, seen outside her Bronx home yesterday, just before she dropped an abuse case against a top Paterson aide.

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The subpoena ranges from police reports to the 911 call and radio transmissions, the source said.

Police say Booker told cops Johnson choked her, ripped her clothes off and pushed her into a mirror.

A key question for Cuomo will be how Booker, who earns just under $57,996 a year from her assistant director's job at Lincoln Hospital, paid for the 2010 Lexus RX350 herself -- or whether someone else gave her the money to buy the SUV, and why.

Before buying the luxury car, Booker was driving a 1998 Ford Escort that, when new, had a base price of a mere $12,580.

Public records show that in recent years Booker had civil judgments entered against her for debts totaling nearly $6,000.

However, in October, Booker reached an out-of-court settlement for an undisclosed sum from her landlord, whom she was suing over a 2006 incident in which she slipped and fell on a sidewalk outside her building.

Booker's lawyer did not respond to requests for comment. The AG's Office declined comment.

Booker, 40, made the complaint against Johnson last Halloween, police said. Two days later, she went to Bronx Family Court and obtained a temporary order of protection against him.

She said that "the state troopers kept calling and harassing me to drop the charges."

At a Nov. 4 hearing, Booker repeated that claim, and said she still wanted court-ordered protection.

But on Dec. 17, a judge told Booker that she had incorrectly attempted delivery of the summons to Johnson, 37, and that she would have to try again. Booker agreed to it.

State Department of Motor Vehicle records show that Booker registered the Lexus, which she had purchased from Prestige Auto in Ramsey, NJ, on Jan. 5. A title to the car was issued in her name -- indicating that she owned it free and clear of any loan -- on Jan. 26.

On Feb. 7 -- a day before her scheduled Family Court hearing -- Booker spoke with Paterson. The next day, she failed to show up at the hearing, and a judge dismissed the matter.

Police said there was no visible sign of injury, so the case was treated as harassment and there was no arrest, although it was logged as a domestic incident. Police said they were unaware of Johnson's link to the governor.

Cops say they served Johnson with an order of protection on Nov. 9. Court transcripts of the hearings show Johnson's lawyer saying he was never served.

Additional reporting by Murray Weiss and Liz Sadler

fredric.dicker@nypost.com

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Comments (8)

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econnor

03/07/2010 8:55 AM

The Governor will prevail.
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mikala2

03/01/2010 6:57 AM

Sugar daddy, Paterson! I'm happy for ya, Sha Ney Ney!!!!! Yeah Right!
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DewNYC

02/28/2010 1:02 AM

Unfortunately, it seems that everyone involved in this sad tale is exploiting the system to their maximum personal benefit while positioning themselves as being a victim. In the end, the taxpayer is taking it in the shorts.
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jackzero

02/27/2010 8:00 PM

It's funny how blacks blindly support corrupt and inept black politicians right into the grave. The blacks in Newark kept re-electing Sharpe James for 20 years as their city became worse and worse. James is now in prison for fraud. The same situation in Detoilet with Kwame Kilpatrick. He was re-elected until he was sent to prison.
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cleanupnynow

02/27/2010 7:19 PM

The David Johnson episode provides further evidence that David Paterson is just up not up to the task of governing. He does not have what it takes to govern effectively. “The Democratic Conference Organizational and Structural Report” detailing the workings of Paterson’s office while he was Senate Minority leader in the New York State Senate is an objective assessment of this clowns ability to manage or more precisely mismanage.

This scathing report indicated that Paterson’s Senate Minority office, headed by the highly inept Michael Jones-Bey, was completely dysfunctional. The unqualified and disinterested Mr. Jones-Bey, a childhood friend of Paterson, who is now incredulously Director of Division of Minority & Women's Business Development at New York State’s Empire State Development Corporation, was reported to be more interested in partying and boozing up with staff than working.

Wow! You can be a total bozo, ex-felon, or women batterer, but if you a friend or gal pal and work for David Paterson you get promoted and protected for such behavior.

TIME TO GO.
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cleanupnynow

02/27/2010 7:19 PM

Abandoning his campaign is not enough. David Paterson needs to resign. He has abused and severely compromised his office and can not serve effectively.

For too long David Paterson has used his office, whether it be as head of the Senate Minority, Lt. Governor or as Governor, as an employment agency for his incompetent and unqualified friends, associates, and gal pals – David Johnson, Clemmie Harris, Michael Jones-Bey, Gabrielle Turner, Indira Noel…. This practice needs to stop now.

His staff and all his friends that he has placed in jobs need to be cleaned out as well...GET HIM AND THEM OUT NOW.

This UN-ELECTED GOV needs to go now, before more damage is done and more of the wrong people profit from his office.
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republicanblack

02/27/2010 7:18 PM

nah that doesn't work search wendy phillips blog and that will get you to the story. Seriously check it out
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republicanblack

02/27/2010 7:15 PM

I just can't believe after sticking it out so long, that all of a sudden he is dropping out the race. This is a witch hunt. He is basically being bullied on every corner, a bull in a ring... I mean what is going on here, now he is bein accused of tampering with a witness????? Look, he's not even close to bein guilty of that its a setup!!! Check this story

search wendygpdphillips

This is what happens to uncorrupted politicians