Report: Spitzer linked to prostitution ring Monday, March 10, 2008
New York Governor Elliot Spitzer speaks on the steps of Schenectady City Hall in October 2007 about the Campaign Finance Reform bill he has proposed. ALBANY — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS - The New York Times is reporting that Gov. Eliot Spitzer has told senior advisers that he had been involved in a prostitution ring.
Spitzer is scheduled to make an announcement Monday afternoon.
Spitzer officials wouldn’t immediately comment on the story.
Spitzer And Emperor’s Club March 10, 2008 at 1:21 pm by James M. Odato
Gov. Eliot Spitzer is expected to discuss reports that he may be linked to the Emperor’s Club VIP, the allegedly illegal operation running expensive women to wealthy men, according to an insider.
The governor is expected to make an announcement in a few minutes. But the New York Times is reporting that Spitzer informed senior staffers of his involvement in a prostitution ring. He is expected to make remarks in in New York City after cancelling his public schedule.
NY governor linked to prostitution ring By AMY WESTFELDT, Associated Press Writer
NEW YORK - Gov. Eliot Spitzer, the crusading politician who built his career on rooting out corruption, apologized Monday after he was accused of involvement in a prostitution ring. He did not elaborate on the scandal, which drew calls for his resignation.
His stoic wife at his side, Spitzer told reporters at a hastily called news conference: "I have acted in a way that violates my obligations to my family."
"I have disappointed and failed to live up to the standard I expected of myself," he said. "I must now dedicate some time to regain the trust of my family."
Spitzer's involvement in the ring was caught on a federal wiretap as part of an investigation opened in recent months, according to a law enforcement official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing inquiry.
The New York Democrat, identified in legal papers as "Client 9," met last month with at least one woman in a Washington hotel, the law enforcement official said.
The prostitution ring, identified in court papers as the Emperors Club VIP, arranged connections between wealthy men and more than 50 prostitutes in New York, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Miami, London and Paris, prosecutors said. Four people allegedly connected to the high-end ring were arrested last week.
The club's Web site displays photographs of scantily clad women with their faces hidden. It also shows 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.
The scandal was first reported on The New York Times' Web site.
Spitzer spoke hours later. Stunned lawmakers gathered around televisions at the state Capitol in Albany to watch, and a media mob gathered outside the office of Lt. Gov. David Paterson, who would become governor if Spitzer was to resign. It took opponents only minutes to call for his resignation.
"Today's news that Eliot Spitzer was likely involved with a prostitution ring and his refusal to deny it leads to one inescapable conclusion: He has disgraced his office and the entire state of New York," said Assembly Republican leader James Tedisco. "He should resign his office immediately."
Spitzer, 48, built his political reputation 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 term as governor has been marred by 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.
The liberal apologists are on the airwaves asserting that Spitzer didn't do anything that warrants his resignation or impeachment. One cited President Clinton's tryst with Monica Lewinsky, stating that what Spitzer did is no worse. Possible charges being discussed include interstate transport for prostitution, money laundering and solicitation.
Don't blame me ... I voted for the other "John", John Faso that is.
The difference between Clinton and Spitzer is that Spitzer was using the FEDERAL COMMUNICATION LINES to solicit a prostitute. And what will really be interesting is as this unfolds. The Feds were taping the prostitution ring's phone lines NOT Spitzer's. Spitzer just happened to be 'on the phone line'. I just wonder how many others will be exposed!
Mr. Steamroller just rolled his last prostitute!!!
I wonder what will happen to all of those 'promised' patisan jobs?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Bruno just may end up being NY's next governor!!!!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Under the state constitution, should Mr. Spitzer resign, the Mr. Paterson, the lieutenant governor would serve the remainder of the Governor’s term.
Mr. Paterson’s current office would remain unfilled until the 2010 election, as the constitution makes no provision for filling a vacancy in the lieutenant governor’s office. Under those circumstances, Joseph L. Bruno, is the Republican majority leader and temporary president of the state senate, would "perform all the duties of the lieutenant-governor" until a new one is elected in 2010.
Those duties include acting as governor when the nominal office-holder is out of the state. Moreover, should Mr. Spitzer resign and if Mr. Paterson were unwilling or unable to take his place, Mr. Bruno would become acting governor—a possibility that would hold special irony, given the vicious and ongoing battles between Mr. Bruno and Mr. Spitzer over the last year.
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