NY Governor's Top Aide Quits Over Tax Row

Deputy blames his $300K in unpaid taxes on 'late-filing syndrome'
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 25, 2008 2:48 AM CDT
NY Governor's Top Aide Quits Over Tax Row
New York Gov. David Paterson, right, and Charles O'Byrne, chief of staff, are seen in Albany, N.Y. on July 15, 2008.   (AP Photo/Mike Groll, file)

The chief aide to New York's governor has resigned after it was revealed that he failed to pay taxes for 5 years, the New York Times reports. David Paterson’s top deputy, Charles O'Byrne, built up a $300,000 backlog of taxes from 2001. He was suffering from depression at the time and blames the non-payment on "late-filing" syndrome.

O'Byrne, an ex-priest, was the governor's right-hand man, playing a central role in almost all of the administration's decision-making. He had a reputation in the state capital for being capable but sometimes aggressive. Paterson initially stood by O'Byrne after news of the non-payment broke, but the scandal seemed likely to start overshadowing the governor's efforts to balance the state budget.
(More David Paterson stories.)

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