ALBANY, N.Y., Dec. 20 (UPI) -- New York Gov. David Paterson was fined $62,125 Monday for soliciting and accepting five free tickets to the 2009 World Series from the Yankees.
State Public Integrity Commission Chairman Michael Cherkasky said the behavior "cannot be tolerated by any New York state employee, particularly our governor," the New York Daily News reported.
"The moral and ethical tone of any organization is set at the top," Cherkasky said. "Unfortunately the governor set a totally inappropriate tone by his dishonest and unethical conduct."
The commission found that Paterson lied when he said he had intended to pay for the tickets.
Paterson, who is leaving office soon, could have been fined as much as $100,000.
The Daily News said a spokeswoman for the governor was not immediately available for comment.
Paterson obtained the five tickets to Game 1 of the 2009 World Series between the Yankees and Philadelphia in October 2009. They were for him, his son, a friend of his son and two aides, the newspaper said.
