The new Governor of New York State has admitted that both he and his wife had extra-marital affairs when their marriage went through a rocky patch several years ago.

In a series of interviews in recent days, David Paterson told the New York Daily News that he had started an affair with "a woman other than my wife" in 1999 and continued it for two or three years.

Mr Paterson was sworn in yesterday to replace Eliot Spitzer, the former New York prosecutor who was brought down by his involvement with a call-girl. The 53-year-old is remarkable for being both the first black governor of New York State and the first legally blind state governor anywhere in America.

The Daily News said that the "thunderous applause was still ringing in his ears" when he told the newspaper that he and his wife had both had affairs. Michelle Paterson, 46, confirmed her affair in a joint interview with her husband.

Mr Paterson said that he and the other woman – who has not been named – sometimes stayed at an upper West Side hotel, now called the Days Inn, at Broadway and West 94th Street.

"This was a marriage that appeared to be going sour at one point," Mr Paterson told the newspaper. "But I went to counselling and we decided we wanted to make it work. Michelle is well aware of what went on."

In a later joint interview with Mr Paterson yesterday, only hours after his swearing-in, Mrs Paterson confirmed her husband's account.

"Like most marriages, you go through certain difficult periods," she said. "What's important is for your kids to see you worked them out."

Mr Paterson denied having used either state or campaign funds to pay for the hotel. The Daily News showed that the then Senator Paterson's campaign spent $456.46 for two nights at the hotel, one on September 10 – on the eve of 9/11 – and one on September 24. The bills were listed as "office expenses".

The newspaper said that Mr Paterson remembered putting up a staffer at the hotel at the time, although he did not remember the precise dates.

Mr Paterson was asked if he had stayed at the hotel in question with anyone else since 2001 and replied that he had taken his wife there after being advised by a marriage counsellor to introduce "new and exciting things" into their relationship.

"It's convenient since it's only four subway stops from my Harlem office," he added.

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