Ex-New York Gov. David Paterson assaulted on Upper East Side, cops say 

Former Gov. David A. Paterson was beaten up Friday evening on Manhattan's Upper East Side by a group of five youths with whom he’d had a verbal argument, according to the NYPD.

Paterson, 70, was hit in the face and body, as was a 20-year-old man he was with, the NYPD wrote in a news release. That man was Paterson's stepson Anthony Sliwa, according to the ex-governor's spokesman, Sean Darcy.

The NYPD release contained surveillance photos of the suspects, who are still at large.

The altercation happened on Second Avenue near East 96th Street.

“Governor Paterson and his stepson were attacked this evening while taking a walk around the block near their home by some individuals that had a previous interaction with his stepson," Darcy said. "They both suffered some injuries but were able to fight off their attackers."

Sliwa is the son of Curtis Sliwa, the founder of the Guardian Angels anticrime patrol group.

"Anthony is doing ok," his father wrote on X. "As a father, I’m wholeheartedly proud of my son for protecting himself and Governor Paterson during this violent attack."

Paterson, who is legally blind, was New York's governor between 2008 and 2010. He is now a talk radio host.

“Governor Paterson's main concern today is Kodai Senga and the New York Mets, but we will provide any additional updates as necessary,” Darcy said Saturday before the Mets' playoff game, in which Senga was the team's scheduled starting pitcher.

By Matthew Chayes

matthew.chayes@newsday.comchayesmatthew

Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.