NY Gov. Paterson fined $62K for taking free Yankees tickets

The Public Integrity Commission’s penalty – the first of its kind against a sitting governor – follows a months-long investigation into the Democratic governor’s freebie foul initially set off by a story in The Post.

"The moral and ethical tone of any organization is set at the top," Commission Chairman Michael Cherkasky said. "Unfortunately the Governor set a totally inappropriate tone by his dishonest and unethical conduct. Such conduct cannot be tolerated by any New York State employee, particularly our Governor."

The $62,125 fine comes less than two weeks before Paterson is slated to handover the Executive Mansion to Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.

The commission found that Paterson and his aides had no intention to pay when they first solicited the Yankees for five free tickets to Game One against the Philadelphia Phillies.