Two individuals have pleaded not guilty to charges of assaulting former New York Governor David Paterson and his stepson, with their defense claiming they were attempting to de-escalate a confrontation. Diamond Minter and Travor Nurse entered their plea on Tuesday for felony assault charges related to an incident on Manhattan’s Upper East Side on a Friday night. The altercation started when Paterson’s 20-year-old stepson, Anthony Sliwa, had a dispute with some youths climbing on a structure outside his building. Sliwa, the son of Guardian Angels anti-crime group founder Curtis Sliwa, had further interactions with the same group later in the evening outside a nearby McDonald’s.
Manhattan assistant district attorney Zachary Campbell informed the court that Nurse and Minter intervened in the situation. It was alleged that Nurse made aggressive gestures towards the 70-year-old former governor and his stepson, leading to a physical altercation where punches were exchanged. Nurse reportedly threw Sliwa to the ground and kicked him, while Minter also got involved in the scuffle. Two young boys, aged 12 and 13, were also charged in connection with the incident, but their cases are being dealt with in family court. Nurse was accused of hitting Paterson on the back of the head, causing him to fall to the ground.
Jeffrey Chabrowe, Nurse’s lawyer, stated that his client and Minter, colleagues at a housing agency, were actually trying to prevent the conflict from escalating. Chabrowe highlighted that they perceived adults harassing children and stepped in to stop the situation. Minter’s attorney, Zachary Wechsler, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for Paterson mentioned that the former governor and his family are looking to move past the traumatic event and expressed confidence in the justice system.
Bail for Nurse was set at $25,000 cash or $50,000 bond, while Minter was released under supervision. Both defendants are set to appear in court again on Friday. Paterson, a Democrat, served as the governor of New York from 2008 to 2010, succeeding Eliot Spitzer after his resignation due to a scandal. The incident involving Paterson and his stepson is still under investigation as the legal proceedings continue.