There couldn't have been a more ironic revelation. On the same day the new governor of New York State took office, replacing a man who resigned in public disgrace because of a sex scandal, David Paterson has admitted both he and his wife have had extra-marital affairs.

The successor takes over from Eliot Spitzer, who was forced to leave his post after evidence surfaced he'd allegedly spent thousands of dollars on high priced call girls.

Now Paterson, the first black man to hold such a high office in the state and the second legally blind politician to become a U.S. governor, has admitted his marriage ran into trouble a few years back and that both he and his wife strayed. His affair lasted from 1999 to 2001 before both sought counseling and decided to give their vows another try.

Paterson revealed he took the "other woman" to a Day's Inn Motel in Manhattan, a place his Albany staff frequently stayed on their trips to New York City. But he was adamant that no government or campaign funds were ever used to fund his trysts.

The new governor made the revelations in the interest of clearing the air - and potentially stopping the press from discovering the kind of 'closet skeleton' that destroyed his predecessor. He vows to have an open government and take his state in a new direction, concentrating on an uncertain economy.

Federal officials haven't yet decided on whether Spitzer will face charges for his alleged actions. He apologized without getting specific about the reasons and resigned last week, with his wife - at least for now - standing by his side.

Related story:

Revealed: call girl at centre of Spitzer case

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