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Paterson Aide Quits in Furor Over His Taxes (had "late-filing syndrome")
New York Times ^ | October 24, 2008 | Nicholas Confessore and Danny Hakim

Posted on 10/25/2008 5:21:17 PM PDT by reaganaut1

Gov. David A. Paterson’s top aide resigned on Friday, stripping the governor of his right-hand man just as he prepares to tackle a worsening fiscal crisis that could make or break his first term.

The resignation of the aide, Charles J. O’Byrne, came a week after revelations that he had failed to pay his federal and state income taxes for five years beginning in 2001, which he said was a result of his clinical depression.

Mr. Paterson had initially expressed support for Mr. O’Byrne, saying that he did not believe Mr. O’Byrne’s past tax problems and depression should force him out of a job he did well.

But statements from Mr. O’Byrne’s lawyer that his tax delinquency was close to $300,000 and that he may have suffered from a syndrome that causes people to not file their taxes worked to intensify the furor, which seemed likely to disrupt Mr. Paterson’s focus on the legislative elections and the budget talks ahead.

“Members of an elected official’s staff should never distract from the work of the principal who they are privileged to serve,” Mr. O’Byrne wrote in his resignation letter, released Friday. “It is clear to me that my personal history has become a distraction to the work of your administration.”

The blow to Mr. Paterson is as intensely personal as it is political.

A highly educated former Jesuit priest, Mr. O’Byrne had an unusually close relationship with the governor, who was raised as a Roman Catholic. Asked to describe it, one person who knows both men said, simply, “Charles was his priest.”

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; US: New York
KEYWORDS: charlesjobyrne; corruptdems; davidpaterson; paterson; taxes
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An article mentioning the "late-filing syndrome" excuse is at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/23/nyregion/23obyrne.html . It's especially hypocritical for an official in such a high-tax state as New York to skip paying taxes for several years.
1 posted on 10/25/2008 5:21:18 PM PDT by reaganaut1
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To: reaganaut1

I wonder how many of us peons could get away with such an excuse for not paying taxes. Tax paying syndrome. Nah, I don’t wonder. I know.


2 posted on 10/25/2008 5:24:47 PM PDT by taxesareforever (Quick justice for the senseless killing of Marine Lance Cpl. Robert Crutchfield.)
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To: reaganaut1

Just like Washington, D.C., where we have lots of representation without taxation.


3 posted on 10/25/2008 5:25:49 PM PDT by 3AngelaD (They screwed up their own countries so bad they had to leave, and now they're here screwing up ours.)
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To: reaganaut1
one person who knows both men said, simply, “Charles was his priest.”

Wow, that will be a mandatory requirement for all aides in the future. "I'm sorry but my deputy cannot testify against me because, ah, he was my priest. Yeah, that's the ticket, my priest."

4 posted on 10/25/2008 5:30:27 PM PDT by NonValueAdded (Colin, descending)
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To: taxesareforever

I am going to be depressed for the next 20 years or so.


5 posted on 10/25/2008 5:32:12 PM PDT by woofie
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To: reaganaut1

It’s interesting that this hated taxes so much, you would figure he would be a Conservative Republican.


6 posted on 10/25/2008 5:34:08 PM PDT by Captain Peter Blood
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To: Captain Peter Blood

His hate of taxes only applied to paying, not imposing them.


7 posted on 10/25/2008 5:36:19 PM PDT by Krankor (Are you claiming you eat toucans or)
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To: reaganaut1
But statements from Mr. O’Byrne’s lawyer that his tax delinquency was close to $300,000 and that he may have suffered from a syndrome that causes people to not file their taxes worked to intensify the furor, which seemed likely to disrupt Mr. Paterson’s focus on the legislative elections and the budget talks ahead.

It that what it is? I'm always depressed around every April 15th, but I didn't know it was a syndrome. And I've been paying my taxes which makes me even more depressed...

8 posted on 10/25/2008 5:37:29 PM PDT by xJones
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To: Krankor

Touche!!!!!!!!!!!


9 posted on 10/25/2008 5:38:06 PM PDT by Captain Peter Blood
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To: reaganaut1

Disgusting. If it was any of us we’d be frogmarched to prison and publicly humiliated by the IRS. Why are these crooks exempt from the same laws that apply to the rest of us?


10 posted on 10/25/2008 5:42:17 PM PDT by pnh102 (Save America - Ban Ethanol Now!)
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To: woofie

Your heirs will have to pay the late fees and unpaid taxes.


11 posted on 10/25/2008 5:42:45 PM PDT by B4Ranch (I'd rather have a VP that can gut a Moose, than a President that wants to gut our Second Amendment!)
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To: reaganaut1

and the RATS, take another one in the.................................HA ha!!!

12 posted on 10/25/2008 5:44:04 PM PDT by Chode (American Hedonist - McCain/Palin'08 = http://www.johnmccain.com/)
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To: B4Ranch

not if I spend up all the money first


13 posted on 10/25/2008 5:48:42 PM PDT by woofie
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To: reaganaut1

Depression made him do it??

It’s depressing that he got away with this for so long. Does no-one vet their own staff any more?? It’s hard to believe that nobody knew about this..


14 posted on 10/25/2008 5:54:00 PM PDT by Bean Counter (Stout Hearts.....)
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To: reaganaut1

From this NY’er, that B****** better go to JAIL! I, who cannot AFFORD NY’s Taxes would be in jail faster than you could say “GUILTY”

Mr. Governor ... LOCK that SOB UP for a LONG TIME!!


15 posted on 10/25/2008 5:56:43 PM PDT by gwilhelm56 (Orwell's 1984 - to Conservatives a WARNING, to Liberals - a TEXTBOOK)
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To: woofie

In the world that’s coming, don’t count on it! They could be held liable for all the wealth that you didn’t spread around.


16 posted on 10/25/2008 6:12:00 PM PDT by B4Ranch (I'd rather have a VP that can gut a Moose, than a President that wants to gut our Second Amendment!)
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To: reaganaut1

I’m just curious, how long is Patterson going to be an unelected govenor? After Spitzer stepped down and was replaced, does that mean the replacement can serve out the whole rest of the term or when do the people get a say in who their governor will be?


17 posted on 10/25/2008 6:15:06 PM PDT by sportutegrl (0bi has been looking a little wan.)
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To: sportutegrl

Whole remaining terms, a little over three years from when he took office earlier this year. He stands for election again in 2010. The plan in NY is for all the Statewide officers being elected at the same time. Here’s the thing, who elects the Lt. Gov, or the VP of the US for that matter? No one. You elect the Governor, and if you can trust him to pick at Lt. Gov., you can’t trust him to pich secretaries or commissioners, or judges, or anything else.


18 posted on 10/25/2008 6:26:02 PM PDT by NYFriend
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To: reaganaut1

What a FRAUD....Fraud Priest...Fraud Tax Payer....FRAUD CATHOLIC.


19 posted on 10/25/2008 6:52:55 PM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion.....The Human Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: Ann Archy

A friend of ours..who is an IRS agent..confirmed that politicians get special treatment by the IRS. They forgive a lot because they don’t want more restrictions placed on them in their collection efforts. So some pigs are more equal than others.


20 posted on 10/25/2008 7:00:46 PM PDT by Oldexpat (Drill Here, Drill There..we must drill everywhere.)
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