New York Governer David Paterson speaks to the press outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington, February 22, 2010, following the annual meeting of state governors with U.S. President Barack Obama.
New York Governer David Paterson speaks to the press outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington, February 22, 2010, following the annual meeting of state governors with U.S. President Barack Obama.

Former New York Gov. David Paterson is "suspicious" that outgoing Gov. Andrew Cuomo would ask for a 14-day transition before leaving office in disgrace.

Paterson made the comments Thursday when he appeared on the WNYC’s "The Brian Lehrer Show."

Paterson compared Cuomo’s resignation to the resignation of former Gov. Elliot Spitzer, who resigned in March of 2008 after a prostitution scandal. Paterson replaced Spitzer and served out nearly three years of Spitzer's term from March 2008 to the end of 2010.

Paterson requested a five-day transition before he began his administration. He argued that Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul would not need much time to start the transition because she had months to prepare as the Cuomo scandal continued to get worse.

“I think in the case of Lt. Gov. Hochul, she has been aware this situation could occur since March, since the investigation began. So I think she was sort of hinting yesterday, she’s ready to take over right now.” Paterson said.

"I just think that the governor has not resolved in his mind what’s actually going on yet and his self-awareness just does not seem to be particularly helpful to him at this particular time,” Paterson said.

An investigation concluded that Cuomo had sexually harassed at least 11 women, many of them being employees.

“The best way I can help now is to step aside and let government get back to governing, and therefore, that’s what I’ll do because I work for you, and doing the right thing is doing the right thing for you,” Cuomo said Tuesday in his resignation.

The state's attorney general Letitia James said that her investigation found that Cuomo “sexually harassed multiple women, many of whom were young women, by engaging in unwanted groping, kissing, hugging, and making inappropriate comments.”

Hochul told reporters Wednesday that she's ready to serve as governor.

“It’s not something we expected or asked for, but I’m fully prepared to assume responsibilities as the 57th Governor of the state of New York,” Hochul said.

Hochul plans to use the transition period to appoint cabinet members to her administration and to outline her vision for the state.