The Public Integrity Commission confirmed this afternoon that it received a request to review an ethical protocol drawn up to ensure there are no conflicts of interest between the jobs of Gov. David A. Paterson and his father, Basil, a prominent lawyer who represents unions of state employees.
Commission spokesman Walter Ayres said the request from Basil Paterson’s law firm, the Long Island-based Meyer, Suozzi, English and Klein, was received on Monday. Ayres said he didn’t know how long the review would take but said the results wouldn’t be made public.
The move comes after the governor's office indicated to Newsday last month that it would not seek an opinion from the commission on the proper line between Paterson's role and his father's. Instead, the governor's office said it would work directly with Meyer Suozzi to put in place protocols to avoid conflicts such as the elder Paterson’s sharing in Meyer Suozzi's proceeds from lobbying state government.
James T. Madore
The protocols bar Basil Paterson, 81, from representing clients with business before an agency in which his son has influence. They also prohibit Meyer Suozzi from doing state work.
New gubernatorial senior adviser William J. Cunningham III was with the firm years ago and has said he knows David Paterson through his father.
Last Friday, firm spokesman Gary Lewi denied there was any inconsistency between consulting the commission and comments made earlier to Newsday. "The decision to submit these protocols is not inconsistent ... To have another set of eyes look at this document - there is no reason not to."
Lewi declined to comment on the penalties for violating the protocols, which he said the Patersons have followed since shortly after the younger man became governor on March 17.