Gov. David Paterson's public safety chief, who oversees the state police, has announced her resignation, citing the administration's handling of a domestic abuse complaint against a close Paterson aide.

Announcing her resignation, Denise O'Donnell pointed to the governor's and the State Police superintendent's acknowledgment of contact with a woman who'd filed a criminal complaint against close Paterson aide David Johnson. O'Donnell says regardless of their intent, contacting the woman was "unacceptable."

A New York Times report this morning raised questions about whether Paterson's administration pressured Johnson's former girlfriend to drop a domestic abuse claim against him.

O'Donnell, a former U.S. attorney who's said to be considering a run for Attorney General this year, says state police superintendent Harry Corbitt assured her in January that his agency had not gotten involved, but he has now admitted that at least one officer talked to the woman.

Governor Paterson has also suggested that he spoke to the woman, in a conversation that was initiated by her, but he now refuses to comment.

Paterson is under increasing pressure to withdraw from the race for governor this fall. Representative Steve Israel says he urged the governor to drop out this morning. Even State Senator Bill Perkins, who holds the Harlem seat Paterson once held, says the allegations are crippling his ability to run a campaign.

The Reverend Al Sharpton, a longtime Paterson ally, has called a meeting of black elected officials for Saturday, a day before Paterson is scheduled to hold a Harlem campaign rally.