Posted on 03/16/2008 2:30:48 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
The federal criminal investigation that has led to Eliot Spitzer's resignation as governor of New York illustrates the great dangers all Americans face from vague and open-ended sex and money-transaction statutes.
Federal law, if read broadly, criminalizes virtually all sexual encounters for which something of value has been given. Federal money-laundering statutes criminalize many entirely legitimate and conventional banking transactions. Congress enacted these laws to give federal prosecutors wide discretion in deciding which "bad guys" to go after.
Generally, wise and intelligent prosecutors use their discretion properly -- to target organized crime, terrorism, financial predation, exploitation of children and the like. But the very existence of these selectively enforced statutes poses grave dangers of abuse. They lie around like loaded guns waiting to be used against the enemies of politically motivated investigators, prosecutors and politicians.
There is no hard evidence that Eliot Spitzer was targeted for investigation, but the story of how he was caught does not ring entirely true to many experienced former prosecutors and current criminal lawyers. The New York Times reported that the revelations began with a routine tax inquiry by revenue agents "conducting a routine examination of suspicious financial transactions reported to them by banks." This investigation allegedly found "several unusual movements of cash involving the Governor of New York." But the movement of the amounts of cash required to pay prostitutes, even high-priced prostitutes over a long period of time, does not commonly generate a full-scale investigation.
We are talking about thousands, not millions, of dollars. We are also talking about a man who is a multimillionaire with numerous investments and purchases. The idea that federal investigators would focus on a few transactions to corporations -- that were not themselves under investigation -- raises as many questions as answers.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
The irony was documented by the same paper's editorial page the other day. Spitzer used similar tactics on companies and one can say - turnabout is fair play. Then he tried to frame a Republican Senate leader.
It was Spitzer and his tactics that we need to get rid of .....where was Alan when the businessmen needed help?
Security at what price.
End of story. STFU Dershovits.
>I say Good Riddance
The irony was documented by the same paper’s editorial page the other day. Spitzer used similar tactics on companies and one can say - turnabout is fair play. Then he tried to frame a Republican Senate leader.
It was Spitzer and his tactics that we need to get rid of .....where was Alan when the businessmen needed help?<<
Yeah... if it turns out there were abuses... can we fix them in a different case? Spitzer was abusive of his power and filled with hubris and deserved a downfall.
Hey... If you live by the sword, occasionally you’ll die by the sword. Spitzer’s bread and butter was busting people just like himself, and using the same methods available to the investigators who nabbed him. But they really haven’t nabbed him yet, because he’s been charged with nothing so far and he may never be charged with any crime.
There were several numbered clients associated with the escort firm, and it is the escort firm that was targeted more so than the clients. There are however, laws against the enabling and solicitation of prostitution on the books in several states including New York.
Mr. Spitzer at the very least, broke those laws and if he isn’t charged with any crime, it will the Prosecutors that he will have to thank for it.
Stupidity brought the man down and Dershowitz is in denial. He refuses to accept that a man who he tutored and who he thought was an intelligent political animal destined to greatness, turned out to be a complete boob when it came to the trait that all real good politicians posses.
Discretion.
Obviously, somebody forgot to teach him that when he was at Harvard.
In my day a girl like "Kristen" was worth 1/2 bottle of "Captain Morgan's" and a promise of a trip to "White Castles" (that I'd blow off) afterwards.
What's the statute of limitations here? ; )
Eliot Spitzer “dusted off” the 1921 Martin Act to go after anyone on Wall Street who opposed him. Up until Spitzer became AG the Martin Act was interpreted very narrowly to apply to shady high-pressure boiler room operations and seriously fraudulent stock scams.
Now, if you go onto Andrew Cuomo’s website you’ll see that he claims the Martin Act gives the New York State AG “sweeping authority” to investigate any securities bought or sold in New York and seek severe criminal and civil penalties.
Any complaints about “dusting off” the Mann Act?
Tough!!!
These are the same, exact tactics Eliot Spitzer used to bring down and destroy the lives of many, many other people.
Pay backs are hell.
By this reading, then, is an engagement diamond simply a bulk lease?
Years ago, the "Know your Customer" law was attempted. People screamed. Then, it became Anti-terrorism (Drug/Money Laundering/whatever) and it was OK.
Dershowitz is an Idiot.
Prostitution is illegal and illegitimate.
dershitwitz....you can’t entrap someone over 10 years
dershitwitz....you can’t entrap someone over 10 years
Unless he's being paid by Spitzer, Dershowitz, as an officer of the court, should be happy that a former prosecutor known for abusive tactics that cost people money and jobs without a shred of evidence, got caught breaking the law in such a hypocritical way.
What "chutzpah" by Dershowitz.
This is all political, and New York politics has always been like a knife fight in a phone booth. Spitzer had grown to believe he was invulnerable. What did Gomer Pyle always say? “Surprise, surprise, surprise!” Next story, please.
Not only is Spitzer a personal friend of Dershowitz, he was his chief researcher in the Claus Von Bulow case.
Dershowitz is a brilliant man, but lacks wisdom. No on "entrapped" Eliot - and Dershowitz knows it.
Truth is, there isn't a need to charge him with anything now. He's been convicted in the court of public opinion already, which is exactly where he's been fighting his unethical battles these past years.
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