Eliot Spitzer, the man who tapped David Paterson in 2006 to be his replacement in what was then considered the unlikely event he couldn’t finish his term as governor, was furious about the latest scandal surrounding the Capitol, according to sources.
“He’s really upset about this whole thing,” said one source familiar with the former governor’s thinking. “He was advising David a bit.”
Other sources said Spitzer was angry with Paterson for the turn of events and the judgment questions surrounding his possible interference in a domestic-abuse case involving top aide David Johnson.
A source said Spitzer felt “responsible” because Paterson was his pick for lieutenant governor.
Paterson has said that inheriting the scandal-scarred administration of Spitzer wasn’t what he’d expected when he became lieutenant governor. But now his own troubled term in office is an indelible part of Spitzer’s legacy.
Spitzer did not respond to a request for comment yesterday.
He resigned amid scandal in March 2008, when he was named as “Client 9” of a high-priced prostitution ring.
Spitzer has been eyeing a possible comeback — and knows that Paterson’s fortunes could strongly impact his own.
“Eliot Spitzer gave us David Paterson, and he has a moral obligation to counsel David Paterson on ways to clean up the mess,” said Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf.
