Gov. David Paterson declined to comment this afternoon on the Kaye report, telling reporters that he hadn’t yet read it, but his attorney, Theodore V. Wells Jr., issued the following statement:

“Gov. Paterson has always maintained that he did nothing improper regarding a domestic violence incident involving a former aide.”

“The governor is pleased that Judge Kaye, after a thorough and independent investigation, has exonerated him of any wrongdoing in this matter.”

That phrase “former aide” is interesting, since it means David Johnson has moved from “suspended without pay,” which was his status as of the end of February following the Times reports about the Oct. 31, 2009 incident and the governor’s potential involvement in it, to 100 percent cut loose from the administration.

Paterson spokesman Morgan Hook e-mailed the following explanation: “He has been suspended without pay since (Feb. 24)…His status has not changed.”

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