regarding the use of the New York State Police by Spitzer's staff to monitor the activities of Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno. As Assistant Secretary, she served as the Governor's top criminal justice advisor and oversaw the State Police, Division of Parole and the Department of Corrections. She also assisted in the development of statewide criminal justice and public safety policies and worked on homeland security efforts for the state. She was a candidate in the 2006 Democratic primary for New York Attorney General.Governor Paterson retained O'Donnell in his cabinet following his taking office on March 17, 2008. O'Donnell resigned from the Paterson administration on February 25, 2010, following reports of alleged misconduct by Paterson and members of his administration. Paterson and the State Police were accused of improperly contacting the alleged victim of domestic abuse committed by David W. Johnson, a top aide to the governor. In her resignation, O'Donnell called "[such] actions unacceptable regardless of their intent," and said that the conduct was "particularly distressing" in an administration "that prides itself on its record of combating domestic violence." In December 2010, President Obama nominated O'Donnell to be the director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance, a component of the Office of Justice Programs within the U.S. Department of Justice. After being confirmed by the senate, O'Donnell was sworn in on June 6, 2011. In June 2014 New York Senator Charles Schumer (D- NY) recommended O'Donnell to fill a vacant federal judgeship on the District Court in the Western District of New York. However, the Obama Administration declined to act on the recommendation and, in 2015, O'Donnell withdrew from consideration. Personal life She is married to John O'Donnell, a New York State Supreme Court Justice. Her son, Jack O'Donnell, is a lobbyist and political advisor. References External links Senate Judiciary confirmation notice NYS Division of Criminal Justice Article about Kopp investigation Article about O'Donnell's ties to Empire Racing Associates State cabinet secretaries of New York (state) Politicians from Buffalo, New York Eliot Spitzer American prosecutors University at Buffalo Law School alumni Canisius College alumni United States Attorneys for the Western District of New York Women in New York (state) politics Year of birth missing (living people) Living people