in february 2010, "the new york times" reported that paterson may have been involved in witness tampering in a domestic abuse case involving staffer david w. johnson after new york state police and paterson allegedly talked to the complainant in an attempt to persuade her to drop the case. paterson was said to have asked the woman if she needed any help a day before the case was dropped. on february 26, 2010, paterson withdrew his bid for a full term as governor of new york.