Posted on 03/10/2008 12:12:18 PM PDT by Brilliant
NEW YORK - Gov. Eliot Spitzer has told senior advisers that he had been involved in a prostitution ring, The New York Times reported Monday, citing an anonymous top administration official.
Spitzer, who is married with three daughters, was scheduled to make an announcement Monday afternoon. Spitzer officials wouldn't immediately comment on the story.
The Times reported that a person with knowledge of the governor's role believes the governor is identified as a client in court papers. Four people allegedly connected to a high-end prostitution ring called Emperors Club VIP were arrested last week.
The Web site of the Emperors Club VIP displays photographs of scantily clad women with their faces hidden, along with hourly rates depending on whether the prostitutes were rated with one diamond, the lowest ranking, or seven diamonds, the highest. The most highly ranked prostitutes cost $5,500 an hour, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said the defendants arranged connections between wealthy men and more than 50 prostitutes in New York, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Miami, London and Paris.
The Times reported that the governor's travel records show he was in Washington in mid-February, and that one of the clients arranged to meet with a prostitute on the night of Feb. 13.
The case is being handled by prosecutors in the Public Corruption unit of U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia's office. Garcia spokeswoman Yusill Scribner said the office had no comment.
Spitzer, 48, built his political legacy on rooting out corruption, including several headline-making battles with Wall Street while serving as attorney general. He stormed into the governor's office in 2006 with a historic share of the vote, vowing to continue his no-nonsense approach to fixing one of the nation's worst governments.
Time magazine had named him "Crusader of the Year" when he was attorney general and the tabloids proclaimed him "Eliot Ness."
But his stint as governor has been marred by several problems, including an unpopular plan to grant driver's licenses to illegal immigrants and a plot by his aides to smear Spitzer's main Republican nemesis.
Spitzer had been expected to testify to the state Public Integrity Commission he had created to answer for his role in the scandal, in which his aides were accused of misusing state police to compile travel records to embarrass Senate Republican leader Joseph Bruno.
Spitzer had served two terms as attorney general where he pursued criminal and civil cases and cracked down on misconduct and conflicts of interests on Wall Street and in corporate America. He had previously been a prosecutor in the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, handling organized crime and white-collar crime cases.
His cases as state attorney general included a few criminal prosecutions of prostitution rings and into tourism involving prostitutes.
In 2004, he was part of an investigation of an escort service in New York City that resulted in the arrest of 18 people on charges of promoting prostitution and related charges.
NY Post site: Report: Spitzer to Resign
Post: >>Fox News reported that he has been indicted and will resign.
WRKO in Boston just went to his presser and he said he would take no questions—but word has it he will take some “time off”...no idea if he’s resigning or not. “Developing”
How sweet it is. Tee Hee!!!
SOMEHOW, I think this is the payback from Hillary for the immigation/driver's license fiasco.
In fact, I'd bet on it...
It will be interesting to see where this leads. Most prostitution rings are conected with organized crime. Along with that Hillary is strongly connected with this guy.
HYPOCRITE!
Isn’t that what all the liberals say about anyone who is conservative and has even a modicum of religious belief???
Apologizes to family & public. “Politics is about...the public good and doing what is best for NY....I will not be taking questions...I will report back to you later...”
more from WCBS radio
http://www.wcbs880.com/Spitzer-Apologizes-to-Family/1796826
I knew times would get worst as Spitzer arrived. I just didn’t except that Spitzer would do such stupid things, such as his crazy plan to get illegal aliens driver licenses.
Clearly, I bet some people are missing Pataki a bit, he looks competent compared to Spitzer.
“Spitzer, 48, built his political legacy on rooting out corruption”
I’m sure he’ll be able to root out some corruption in whatever prison he ends up in.
The people of NY got the leader they deserved.
He is a democrat, and no need to resign.. apparently there were four people mentioned.. wonder if the impeached ex president was involved? but I doubt if he would pay the fare.. he would expect to be paid for his “bent” services, that no doubt required a performance enchanging drug..
Any guesses?
Good riddance to an odious little weasel.
I know masses on FR hate Rudy, but with his economic policies, he would do wonders as NY Gov....polar opposite to Spitzer.
They said he was a dem on fox news! He was suppose to be at a meeting with planned parenthood,then this!
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