March 10, 2008
Governor Spitzer Involved with Prostitution Ring;
Spitzer Has Not Resigned
Photograph of Governor Spitzer, with his wife Silda Wall Spitzer, during his apology to his family and the citizens of New York by Mary Altaffer/AP
Governor Spitzer made a statement this afternoon referring to his apparent link to a prostitution ring." He had canceled his events and made this brief and cryptic statement:
Over the past nine years, eight as attorney general and one as governor, I have tried to uphold a vision of progressive politics that would rebuild New york and create opportunity for all.You can listen to his statement here. And you can also watch it:We sought to bring real change to New York, and that will continue.
Today, I want to briefly address a private matter.
I have acted in a way that violates my obligations to my family, that violates my -- or any -- sense of right and wrong. I apologize first, and most importantly, to my family. I apologize to the public, whom I promised better.
I do not believe that politics in the long run is about individuals. It is about ideas, the public good and doing what it best for the state of New York.
But I have disappointed and failed to live up to the standard I expected of myself. I must now dedicate some time to regain the trust of my family.
I will not be taking questions. Thank you very much. I will report back to you in short order.
Thank you very much.
Is the reference to ideas, vs. individuals, a signal he isn't leaving office without a fight? Spitzer, whose first year in office has been rocky, is married to his Harvard Law School sweetheart Silda Wall Spitzer and has three daughters; Wall Spitzer was next to Spitzer during the speech, looking "weary."
Today, the Sun reported that "the U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan may have evidence that a public official hired a prostitute," in connection to the international prostitution ring broken up last week (the one with the diamond rating system and additional investment and art dealing services). The Sun noticed that "all three of the assistant U.S. attorneys assigned to the prosecution are part of the U.S. attorney's public corruption unit."
Spitzer was caught on federal wiretap arranging for a prostitute to meet him. From the Times:
The wiretap recording, made during an investigation of a prostitution ring called Emperors Club VIP, captured a man identified as Client 9 on a telephone call confirming plans to have a woman travel from New York to Washington, where he had reserved a room. The person briefed on the case identified Mr. Spitzer as Client 9.The Emperors Club website had said, "As a person of immense financial and influential affluence, your privacy is sacred to all aspects of your life. As a private, international club specializing in catering to the needs of the worlds most financially and culturally elite, privacy and discretion are paramount objectives in everything we do."
Photograph, taken in 2007, of Spitzer with, from left, daughter Jenna, wife Silda Wall Spitzer and daughters Elyssa and Sarabeth by Tim Roske/AP
The Daily News' Errol Louis, on WNYC, mentioned the Mann Act, which involves human trafficking and white slavery, because the prostitute seems to have traveled from NY to DC. WNYC's Andrea Bernstein doesn't think Spitzer can recover from this scandal, if it's true. And apparently the buzz at a fundraiser for Sheldon Silver this morning was that Spitzer would resign.
If Spitzer resigns, Lieutenant Governor David Paterson is next in line (there was some talk of him running for Senate if Hillary Clinton were elected President), and after that, it's the Senate Majority Leader (Joe Bruno) and then the Assembly Speaker (Sheldon Silver).
The NY Post's Fred Dicker said there were some rumblings about a high ranking public official being involved with the ring and told 1010WINS, "This is the biggest political story, if it's true, of modern New York history." Naturally, the Governor's website is down. And if you want some Photoshop fun, check this out.
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Here's the statement from Sen. Bruno:
As Roger Daltry once said, *"YEEEEEEAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*
holy crap. unbelievable and insane!!
Somehow I don't think the "Day One" snark was in the Times report..
A Man's gotta do what a Man's gotta do
um, holy shit? if that's true, he's absolutely toast.
Wow, that's the end of Spitzer's career....
Out of curiosity, does "involved with a prostitution ring" mean as part of the operation of the ring, or as a customer?
Roger Stone is drunk-dialing everyone he knows.
It's almost got to be true.. you don't have this kind of response to a rumor.
This is all very similar to the McGreevey resignation.. it came out of nowhere and was done within hours. Both appear to be prompted by pending legal action.
Wow.
Just Wow.
Jesus, what could this all possibly mean? He was involved in the running of the ring or didn't prosecute it and profited or did he just love getting whores?
lol wow
I never bought Spitzer's "reformer" schtick. He always just struck me as an overbearing bully who used "ethics" as a vehicle for power. And bullies are usually overcompensating for something.
Jerk Store - great nick.
Spitzer was born wealthy. I'm sure he wasn't involved in running the ring, most likely he was just paying for high-class talent to help him relax after a hard day of steamrolling.
What an idiot. I thought it was common knowledge that escort services kept records. And to do this while in office? Didn't anyone learn anything from Bill Clinton? Keep it in your pants until you're out of office.
Whoop de do. Another politician involved in something he shouldn't be. I just assume they're all involved in illegal activities. If the story leaks, it just means they didn't pay off the right people.
urban dictionary:
clevland steamer
new york steamroller
Absolutely amazing. Really. Can't you just hear the champagne corks popping on Wall Street?
As a super-delegate, who was Spitzer supporting?
The Emperor's Club--wasn't that a bad Kevin Kline movie?
Wow. What a way to end your career...though the former NJ governor takes the cake.
Why can't we all go by the Yacht Rock advice of "Get your dick out of your heart!"
Apparently both New York and New Jersey governors aren't fans of Hall & Oates.
that pic is fuckin gold!
did the announcement happened already?
I didn't see anything on NY1
the owners of scores west must have a shit eating grin on them
I think Joe Bruno is behind this.
Pic is funny, but not as funny as putting this story next to "Pope Announces New Sins."
Spitzer, you dumb son of a bitch. I loved you like I love Obama.
(sigh)
I can't wait for the announcement...
I'm admittedly very disappointed as well. Before this, I was a fan of Spitzer - despite all of his flaws of bravado.
As a superdelegate, I believe he was supporting Hillary Clinton.
You know what's funny? 38 posts and not one Steamroller joke.
People, I know it's Monday, but...
This came of out no where.
Spitzer will go down as one of the worst governors in New York.
Spitzer, you dumb son of a bitch. I loved you like I love Obama.
do you think his "escort" spitzer swallows?
Compared to Joe Bruno he is still a saint.
Never trust a man with eye liner
Sources tell Eyewitness News that Governor Eliot Spitzer is going to resign, after being linked to a prostitution ring in a published report.
Wow
lol, look who's governor now.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Paterson
The Times says the feds have Spitzer on tape on a wiretap making arrangements to meet a hooker at a Washington hotel last month. Oy!
"Now Mrs. Spitzer, can you please explain for the court how a pimp's love differs from a regular player's love?"
Tomorrow's NY Post headline:
"I am a straight American"
Apparently he was caught arranging to have a prostitute go from NY to DC, which is a federal crime. Human trafficking, ugh.
Welcome
Thank you for taking the time to help me build a better New York. Together, we can make this great state a shining example of growth and opportunity -- the best place in the world to live, work and raise a family.
Every day we need to take a step closer toward this goal. With your help, we will succeed.
Governor Eliot Spitzer
http://www.eliotspitzer.com/
How is that human trafficking? Its nothing more than a business trip! Its not like the woman was sent against her will if you look at how much shes getting paid to do him.
I shall not cast judgment upon our Governor until I have seen pictures of the women he has slept with. Only then shall he be judged.
side note: is one of the indictees (Tanya Hollander) related to former 'happy hooker'Xaviera? Talking bloodlines here...maybe she can claim as a defense that she couldn't resist because of heredity.
Wait, so the new Govener is legally blind????
Spitzer has been such a disappointment. Thank god I didn’t take that internship.
He made a statement but didn't resign. Not yet at least.
Time to go, Spitz. Time to go.
Leave office now before we take you out by force.
White slavery? That should go over well with his constituents in the bushwick. I dare say he may run for a second term now.
Meanwhile, somewhere upstate, Joe "Phil Leotardo" Bruno has a boner from here to Utica.
I wonder if he used the investment and art dealing services also.
i maintain that hiring a prostitute is still better than two wetsuits
at #50. Yes, and African American. Shame he'll be crippled by fat NYS politics and Spitzer's wayward penis.
that first picture is terrible. its like he just ate a bag of sourpatches.
He was wiretapped and is in big trouble as he sent
for a Prostitute across state lines a violation
of the"Mann act",stupid! ugh, what a failure .
Crooked Joe Bruno is smiling!
Welcome Gov.Patterson.
This is exactly how the Feds' vast new wiretapping liberties should be used... destroying the careers of politicians their current boss doesn't like.
Spizer really has to resign. If it's not going to happen today it's sure going to happen within the next few weeks when investigation comes out.