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The recent domestic violence scandal involving New York’s Governor David Paterson, and his top aid David Johnson is a testament to many issues that victims face when confronting their abusers. Johnson has worked with and known Governor Paterson for over a decade, so it was no surprise when Johnson’s problems became Paterson’s.

 

David Johnson was accused of being part of a domestic dispute with a woman he had been dating, that took place this past Halloween. The woman, Sherr-una Booker, claims that Johnson ripped off her Halloween costume, choked her, threw her against a bureau and prevented her from calling the police for help.

 

Allegedly, after finding out about the situation, Governor Paterson approached Deneane Brown, a state worker who was friends with both the Governor and Sherr-una Booker. Brown was instructed to tell Booker that “The Governor wants her to make this go away.” After these instructions, Brown supposedly called and texted her repeatedly, though the content of the messages has not been revealed. Finally, the day before Booker was supposed to appear in court to obtain a permanent order of protection against Johnson, Brown arranged a phone conversation between Governor Paterson and Booker. The following day, Booker did not appear in court, thus resulting in the dismissal of her case.

 

Governor Paterson denies ever having said to tell Booker that he wanted “…her to make this go away.” He also claims that the only reason he spoke with Ms. Booker on the phone was because she had contacted him first to complain that she was being bothered by reporters from the New York Times. Despite this, Paterson announced his decision to drop out of the upcoming election and focus on serving the rest of his term in office.

 

While both Paterson and Johnson are both facing serious charges, the differences in each person’s public accountability are striking. While it is important to hold public figures such as the Governor to high standards, it is also important in this situation to hold Mr. Johnson accountable as well. Mr. Johnson it seems, has rarely in the course of his career with Governor Paterson, been held accountable for his actions. In his teens Johnson was arrested twice for various drug charges. While second chances are generous, and Paterson seems to give them out freely, the question of where the line should be drawn must be asked. Johnson was involved in two altercations with women prior to the most recent Halloween incident, both of which the Governor dismissed as “bad breakups.”

 

When will David Johnson, a man who seemingly floated through the ranks of Governor Paterson’s office, be held accountable for his actions? Governor Paterson’s upcoming election ultimately took the hit for Johnson’s “bad break up,” this time, and rightfully so; however public embarrassment is quite obviously not enough for both of these men. Both broke the law and just because they have the right connections to forego the consequences does not mean that they should be allowed to do so.

 

Whether we like it or not, public figures set a precedent for the rest of the country. If they are not held accountable for violent and corrupt acts against women, who will be?

 

This posting is part of a series by passionate allies in the cause. The author is Sara Aucker, a 2010  intern with Becky's Fund.

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