March 19, 2008	Wednesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 10, 1429

NEW YORK, March 18: In another scandalous bombshell, New York State’s new governor has come clean about his own extra-marital affairs in a interview with Daily News on Tuesday.

Governor David Paterson told New York Daily News, he and his wife Michelle had affairs during a rough patch in their marriage several years ago.

Political observers here say that Mr Paterson and his wife came clean immediately after the swearing in ceremony in order to avoid and revelations later which could undermine his tenure as New York’s chief executive.

“This was a marriage that appeared to be going sour at one point,” Paterson told Daily News. “But I went to counselling and we decided we wanted to make it work. Michelle is well aware of what went on.”

Paterson told the newspaper that he maintained a relationship with another woman from 1999 until 2001. He and his wife, Michelle, eventually sought counselling and repaired their relationship. The couple did not go into details.

Paterson and the other woman sometimes stayed at a Days Inn on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, the governor said, adding that his Albany staff sometimes stayed there as well when they were in the city. Paterson said he did not use government or campaign funds to pay for the romantic encounters.

A spokesman for the governor did not immediately reply to requests for comment about Paterson’s interview, which came hours after the governor assumed office with a message of unity. He became the state’s first black chief executive and the nation’s second legally blind governor.

“We move forward. Today is Monday. There is work to be done,” Paterson said. “There was an oath to be taken. There’s trust that needs to be restored. There are issues that need to be addressed.”

Spitzer, according to ex-aides, was at his Columbia County farmhouse at the time of Paterson’s swearing-in.Paterson’s wife had tears in her eyes for most of the ceremony. “Every time I hear David speak, I want to cry,” she said afterward. “I’m just very happy I was able to live to see this day.”