As the investigation grows into Governor David Paterson's involvement in a domestic abuse case and more allegations emerge about his misconduct, the governor held a meeting with the state’s top two legislative leaders today to discuss the budget.

Paterson met with Senate Majority Leader John Sampson and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, both Democrats, in the executive mansion this afternoon.

They were scheduled to discuss the state's budget ahead of next month's deadline.

After the meeting, Silver said the governor should not resign.

The meeting comes in the shadow of a new report that says Paterson was directly involved in trying to get a woman to drop assault charges against aide David Johnson.

The New York Times cites an unnamed source in reporting that the governor told his press secretary, Marissa Shorenstein, to ask the woman to describe the incident as non-violent.

The New York Post reports Shorenstein met yesterday with investigators from Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's office.

Paterson also reportedly asked another state employee, Deneane Brown, who is friends with both the accuser and the governor, to contact the woman before she was due in court to finalize an order of protection against Johnson.

Brown reportedly arranged a phone call between the woman and the governor.

The assault case was dropped when the accuser did not show up for a hearing on February 8.

In a public appearance yesterday, Paterson declined to comment on the case, citing the investigation by the attorney general's office.
Paterson also said he will not resign, despite calls from some Democrats that he step aside.

Speaking today, Lieutenant Governor Richard Ravitch said he had a productive meeting with the governor last night, and that he is not preparing to become governor.

Assertions from both Paterson and Ravitch that the leadership is not going to change is not stopping the New York chapter of the National Organization for Women from calling for the governor's immediate resignation. It says, "This latest news is very disappointing for those of us who believed the Governor was a strong advocate for women's equality and for ending violence against women."