SCHENECTADY -- Gov. David Paterson on Wednesday started to bristle when he was asked more questions about his private life following his disclosure that he had extramarital affairs years ago.
"I think that more than any elected official on this planet, and probably in outer space, I have discussed my personal situation over the last week," he told reporters at a news conference with local officials.
The day he was sworn in following Eliot Spitzer's resignation amid a prostitution scandal, Paterson told a New York City tabloid he had an affair several years ago when his marriage was in trouble. If Day One of the administration started with a jolt, Day Two provided the aftershock when Paterson, in a remarkable press conference, told dozens of reporters he had had several affairs, ending in 2002.
Then came the revelation that he had briefly experimented with marijuana and cocaine 30 years ago.
He said he opened up so he could start his administration with honesty and not be coerced into policy decisions.
On Wednesday, Paterson abandoned his usual bantering style and turned serious with reporters.
"The reason I did it is I felt that since I was not vetted as a governor -- I didn't get here actually by desire, I ran for lieutenant governor -- a number of those things that I discussed then were not publicized," Paterson said. "I gave what I thought was the media and citizens of New York an idea of what I wanted to do as governor and I also gave them an idea about some issues I thought I needed to present to the public.
"But I think I've answered all those questions," said Paterson, who then abruptly ended the news conference.
But the disclosures over the last eight days only led to more questions -- and more scrutiny -- about his state and campaign spending over the years and hurt his administration as soon as it started. The questions included why he spent state funds on hotels in downtown Albany when he had a house 20 minutes away in the suburb of Guilderland. He was asked to explain out-of-state trips, including two for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaigns with a staffer in the governor's office who officials have confirmed had an affair with Paterson.
Paterson says the affairs ended in 2002, when he reconciled with his wife. Paterson's spending on hotels and travel hasn't been shown to be for any romantic rendezvous and he said he sometimes stayed in Albany rather than Guilderland so he could get to the Capitol immediately if needed.
On Wednesday, at a news conference with Schenectady Mayor Brian Stratton to discuss municipal aid, he was asked about more spending.
Paterson responded that about $500 his campaign spent at Bloomingdale's and Tiffany & Co. over the last three years were not for gifts for girlfriends, but for Christmas presents for campaign workers. Campaign records show $374.50 was spent at Bloomingdale's on Dec. 23, 2006.
The day he was sworn in following Eliot Spitzer's resignation amid a prostitution scandal, Paterson told a New York City tabloid he had an affair several years ago when his marriage was in trouble. If Day One of the administration started with a jolt, Day Two provided the aftershock when Paterson, in a remarkable press conference, told dozens of reporters he had had several affairs, ending in 2002.
Then came the revelation that he had briefly experimented with marijuana and cocaine 30 years ago.
He said he opened up so he could start his administration with honesty and not be coerced into policy decisions.
On Wednesday, Paterson abandoned his usual bantering style and turned serious with reporters.
"The reason I did it is I felt that since I was not vetted as a governor -- I didn't get here actually by desire, I ran for lieutenant governor -- a number of those things that I discussed then were not publicized," Paterson said. "I gave what I thought was the media and citizens of New York an idea of what I wanted to do as governor and I also gave them an idea about some issues I thought I needed to present to the public.
"But I think I've answered all those questions," said Paterson, who then abruptly ended the news conference.
But the disclosures over the last eight days only led to more questions -- and more scrutiny -- about his state and campaign spending over the years and hurt his administration as soon as it started. The questions included why he spent state funds on hotels in downtown Albany when he had a house 20 minutes away in the suburb of Guilderland. He was asked to explain out-of-state trips, including two for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaigns with a staffer in the governor's office who officials have confirmed had an affair with Paterson.
Paterson says the affairs ended in 2002, when he reconciled with his wife. Paterson's spending on hotels and travel hasn't been shown to be for any romantic rendezvous and he said he sometimes stayed in Albany rather than Guilderland so he could get to the Capitol immediately if needed.
On Wednesday, at a news conference with Schenectady Mayor Brian Stratton to discuss municipal aid, he was asked about more spending.
Paterson responded that about $500 his campaign spent at Bloomingdale's and Tiffany & Co. over the last three years were not for gifts for girlfriends, but for Christmas presents for campaign workers. Campaign records show $374.50 was spent at Bloomingdale's on Dec. 23, 2006.