March 12, 2008
Spitzer Resigning This Morning, Other Details
Photograph of Eliot Spitzer as his Monday press conference by Mary Altaffer/AP
Multiple sources say that Governor Eliot Spitzer is resigning and has begun notifying top state officials of his decision and is now scheduled to speak at 11:30 a.m.. Of course, he was expected to step down yesterday, but it seems that after "an agonizing night," his resignation is all but confirmed. (The Times has a Q&A conducted with Paterson in January; like Spitzer he's a big Hillary Clinton booster.)
A notarized letter of resignation is expected to be delivered soon to the state Capitol, with Lieutenant Governor David A. Paterson to be sworn is as acting governor later today. Paterson, who today becomes the first African-American governor in New York and the first legally blind governor in U.S. history, had reportedly urged Spitzer to withhold resigning until Monday to better prepare for the transition, to no avail.
The embattled governor, cited as a customer of a high class prostitution ring and possibly facing criminal charges, apparently had drafted a resignation letter on Monday at 7 p.m., but his family and advisers said he shouldn't resign so quickly, as his power could be used as a bargaining chip with prosecutors. Some new details about the case:
- Spitzer's bank tipped off the IRS when the governor "tried to make multiple transfers that came to more than $10,000, an amount that triggers federal reporting requirements." (The transfers went to the Emperors Club shell company, QAT Consulting; here are more details about the Bank Secrecy Act.)
- Later, Spitzer asked the bank to take his name off some transfers, but the bank refused, since it would be (a) "improper" and (b) moot, since the money was sent.
- A source told Newsday the IRS was worried Spitzer "was the victim of some sort of blackmail scheme or that he was being victimized by an impostor."
- A 22-year-old escort - not from Emperors Club - tells ABC News that Spitzer was her customer when he was attorney general. She said, "He didn't do anything that wasn't clean," and apparently called from the attorney general's office in Brooklyn.
- The Post got confirmation from law enforcement officials that "Spitzer didn’t want to wear a condom."
- Spitzer MAY HAVE SPENT UP TO $80,000 ON HOOKERS over the past few years
- In plea deal talks with prosecutors, Spitzer is looking to only plead guilty to a misdemeanor. Prosecutors are also looking to bring in other Emperors Club call girls for questioning.
A WNBC/Marist poll released yesterday says that 7 out of 10 New York State residents wants Spitzer to resign; half want him to be charged with a crime. Lieutenant Governor David Paterson told reporters in Albany yesterday, "The governor called me yesterday. He said he didn’t resign for a number of reasons, and he didn’t go into the reasons, and that’s the last I’ve heard from him.” Paterson has now been informed that he will be sworn in later today.
UPDATE 10:15 a.m.: Spitzer is scheduled to speak at 11:30 a.m.
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As the person compiling these details last night, I was pretty grossed out. And enraged. What the hell was he thinking? Trying to get around the banking system? Not using a condom? Jesus H. Christ.
Sure, but did you read the article this morning in the Metro "Don't Get Snagged," outlining How to Cheat and Not Get Caught, in 4 easy steps?
I mean, really?
More fodder for Post and Daily News headlines!
Bet he resigns after Market close...
"...wife Silda Wall Spitzer and other aides had been advising against resignation "
Are they insane?
That picture so perfectly captures the story.
Silver lining: Spitzer was acting like an ass even before these revelations, so this is just a quick way to dispose of him. I'm really looking forward to Governor Patterson!
I think his wife didn't want him to resign to maximize his pain. At least he's going to step down, and save us from the cost and drama of a ridiculous impeachment proceeding.
Thank you, governor bareback, for sparing us what would have been a swift and ignominious removal from office.
oh, and agree with Jen. I mean, what he is accused of is against the law. Some would argue it's a victimless crime, and there is clearly some room for debate on that. But this guy is about as selfish as they come if he was having unprotected sex with hookers. I feel bad for his wife and kids, and hope he gets some jail time and is disbarred.
When your paying that much for sex, You shouldn't HAVE to use condoms. They should be screened for every conceivable sexually transmitted disease after each romp.
As the person compiling these details last night, I was pretty grossed out. And enraged. What the hell was he thinking? Trying to get around the banking system? Not using a condom? Jesus H. Christ.
I'm more concerned about $10k being the trigger where they can give your banking info to the government. That's not a lot of money, really. Why does the government and IRS get to see my records if I re-route some money. That's more disturbing than whatever Spitzer wants to do on his own time and with his own money.
Unless we found out that he missed important meetings or used taxpayer money, I'm not grossed out whatsoever.
This quote from ABC makes me laugh:
"These are serious laws and laws that given the amount of money involved here could mean a prison term of 10 to 18 months," Sean O'Shea, a former federal prosecutor specializing in financial crimes, said.
I've read those laws in the past, too. They're a joke. The primary reason behind them is so the IRS can make sure you're taxed twice for your income, basically.
When your paying that much for sex, You shouldn't HAVE to use condoms. They should be screened for every conceivable sexually transmitted disease after each romp.
Yes, because in the interim between testing and results, each prostitute is placed in a hermetically-sealed container with a safety seal which can only be breached by the next John, who has also gone through a full screening.
'm more concerned about $10k being the trigger where they can give your banking info to the government.
The NSA now monitors huge volumes of records of domestic emails and Internet searches as well as bank transfers, credit-card transactions, travel and telephone records.
They just pointed out on the Brian Lehrer show that Spitzer forced Alan Hevesi out of office after Chauffeurgate. I forgot about that. If he expects a "buck stops here" philosophy from other officials then he has to adhere to the same standard.
Everything his parents, and wife, and supporters worked for, and he threw it away on sex. Even if this was a politically motivated investigation, Spitzer spent a life in law enforcement - he should have known he would be a target.
Unfortunate.
The NSA now monitors huge volumes of records of domestic emails and Internet searches as well as bank transfers, credit-card transactions, travel and telephone records.
Well, I'm obviously most concerned about the Protect America Act and FISA, but the 10k trigger is pathetic.
In regards to banking records, public officials bank accounts are monitored much more closely as to detect the first sign of blackmail, fraud, etc.
A civilian giving 10k to a shell company most likely would have been passed by.
first of all, Spitzer should be on suicide watch if he's any kind of decent human being with any pride. The longer he breathes means the more nefarious he really is. I'd be standing on a roof right now if I were him. second of all the 10k being the trigger is food for thought.
first of all, Spitzer should be on suicide watch if he's any kind of decent human being with any pride. The longer he breathes means the more nefarious he really is. I'd be standing on a roof right now if I were him. second of all the 10k being the trigger is food for thought.
Why? Because he cheated on his spouse and got caught?
This only happens to about...a million + couples a year probably.
Yes eyekantspel. And they must be virgins with the cervix tamper proof seal intact to ensure freshness.
Puritanism.
so spitzer likes creampies. who doesn't?
he should be on suicide watch cause he destroyed the public's confidence and from his fall from the highest political public office in new york with his sterling reputation tarnished more than ever. If this guy were japanese he'd be dead by now.
he should be on suicide watch cause he destroyed the public's confidence and from his fall from the highest political public office in new york with his sterling reputation tarnished more than ever. If this guy were japanese he'd be dead by now.
He never lied to us. He told the truth about his sex life. To me, I have more faith in him. Though I'm troubled by his past prosecution of prostitution. If he stuck to his convictions and was a pro-legalization candidate, this would've been a non-issue.
And Japan? Seriously? They would love Spitzer. Japan is very machismo with sexuality. They have places where you can easily get quickies at lunch for businessmen and it's not stigmatized.
Puritanism? Perhaps, Ethan. But that doesn't change the fact that a) Spitzer swore to uphold the laws of the land, and then cavalierly broke those laws as suited him in the pursuit of a lay, and b) opened himself for bribery and inappropriate conduct, which is irresponsible behavior in a high public official.
You can argue all you want about whether or not what he did should be wrong. That doesn't change that fact that in the jurisdiction, and at the time, that he did these things, they were illegal. As the governor and as a lawyer, he should have known better.
And not just any lawyer! He was freaking ATTORNEY GENERAL!
the joke is that people are defending Spitzer, calling this puritanism, a private matter, and whatever else.
Spitzer built his career as a prosecutor, convicted people of similar crimes using the same tactics now being used against him. How can you see him as a victim, when he championed the system for so many years? He helped make the rules.
If anyone's wondering, I'm not a Democrat nor did I vote for Spitzer. I just think it's bogus to blow this out of proportion: It was his sex life. He didn't cheat taxpayers. In my eyes, he broke no laws. I don't condone adultery, but it's not my marriage.
Sex scandals suck. People need to care more about liberties being reduced, our fiat money, and our foreign policy instead of whether or not Spitzer likes it's natural. By the way, he has nice taste in women.
"In my eyes, he broke no laws."
So soliciting prostitution is legal?
I agree with you that this is blown out of proportion, thanks to the Media (And us), but he did break the law.
He didn't cheat taxpayers. In my eyes, he broke no laws.
He broke a number of laws, whether you agree there should be laws or not. He opened himself up to being vulnerable to blackmail and/or payoffs. And it's not clear whether he did or did not use taxpayer money, or do it on taxpayer time.
It's not puritanism. People wouldn't have called for his resignation if he had an affair and banged some chick who isn't his wife. Heck, Giuliani did it and it wasn't treated as anything more than gossip page fodder, and he had also been a prosecutor.
It's a) the illegality. Trafficking prostitution across state lines in violation of federal law is a big deal for a sitting governor, never mind the money transfers. And b) the hypocracy. He was prosecuting call girl rings while patronizing them himself. The fact that nobody really liked him before all this came to light doesn't help either.
"A civilian giving 10k to a shell company most likely would have been passed by."
The scariest part of that sentence is most likely. The government's job is to protect its citizens; not to put its nose into every aspect of a person's life. Most likely though, it will invade the privacy of its citizens to "guarantee their security".
And this is why Benjamin Franklin was a smarter American than most politicians then and now. He was never President because he knew the job wasn't worth the price paid to have it, and he came up with a quote that sums it all up, "Those Who Sacrifice Liberty For Security Deserve Neither."
I'm more concerned about $10k being the trigger where they can give your banking info to the government. That's not a lot of money, really.
The limit has been $10,000 for years and like most government programs is not indexed to inflation. See Alternative Minimum Tax, previous IRA contribution amount capped at $2000 for about 20 years, etc.
And to everyone that says it is just his sex life, you're right, but he also broke the prostitution laws. There is a difference. Clinton would not have been impeached if he had not lied under oath. Giuliani weathered his adultery scandal because he had the sense to get a mistress rather than go to prostitutes. If you want prostitution to be legal I suggest you write to your state legislators and the new Governor. First you will have to win over the puritans on the right. But then you will have to convince the feminists on the left. Good luck with that.
In my eyes, he broke no laws your eyes don't matter much, the laws do. Each of us probably have his/her own standards of what is okay and not okay, but the laws are clear. This isn't about adultery, this is about prostitution.
Maybe you think it's okay for the Governor to be meeting with hookers for sex, or to do coke, cheat on his taxes, or other victimless crimes. If you want to do that stuff, I don't much care. But I do expect someone who holds the office of executive to abide by the rules that the rest of us are expected to. Cops, prosecutors, people who hold office, should be held to the rules they make the rest of us live by. If Spitzer wants to do that stuff, he needs to be in a different line of work.
It's not blown out of proportion. Read this: THE GOVERNER OF NEW YORK HAD SEX WITH HOOKERS! He put his penis in multiple prostitute vaginas using incidental Taxpayer money. The money he used to chaffeur himself to the Hotel is taxpayer money. The people defending his ass probably frequent prostitutes themselves so they think it's no big deal.
Ho hum. When are Bush and Cheney resigning??
To some extent it is a private matter, and his wife should deal with him as she sees fit. But, the bigger issue is that he completely violated an ethical standard, which to me, in a politician and leader is unacceptable.
So soliciting prostitution is legal?
No, but that's why I said "in my eyes."
Sure, it doesn't matter what I think, but I'm just expressing that I don't think it's a big deal because I don't feel it's a real crime, soliciting a prostitute.
Just like when I read stories about athletes getting caught with pot, or drug users getting a harsh third strike penalty, I'll always express that I think they did nothing wrong and the law is a joke in my eyes.
"Well he broke the law" is just a tired phrase we all use. We overrate morality as a virtue in this country, and have these morality laws on the books that do nothing but ruin lives and costs the taxpayers money with incarcerating and trying these ppl.
Not to mention, we're morally bankrupt as a country with our foreign policy, so we're all throwing stones in a big glass house known as the United States.
Not to mention, we're morally bankrupt as a country with our foreign policy, so we're all throwing stones in a big glass house known as the United States.
So because you don't believe we have the correct foreign policy, you think we should let prosecutors break the law with impunity, and just embrace our state of moral bankruptcy? I think that's overreacting a bit. You don't like the war in Iraq, elect leaders who will change foreign policy.
Spitzer wasn't screwing whores as a protest of U.S. foreign policy. He engaged in behavior he helped criminalize because he's a hypocrite who thinks the rules should apply to those he prosecuted, but not to him.
How long till he comes out with his tearful confessions about being a sexaholic?
I would be very surprised if he was charged with solicitation since johns very rarely get charged. Usually its only the hookers.
I mean of course I wouldn't really be *surprised* because Spitzer's self-righteous hypocrisy matches that of the judicial system when it comes to prostitution.
Yes.
So because you don't believe we have the correct foreign policy, you think we should let prosecutors break the law with impunity, and just embrace our state of moral bankruptcy? I think that's overreacting a bit. You don't like the war in Iraq, elect leaders who will change foreign policy.
If you take my comment out of context, it reads like you say. But I think it's rather clear, from the way I wrote my couple of paragraphs, that the real issue I'm tackling is the morality law, and other morality laws (non-violent drug felonies, etc.).
If you take my comment out of context, it reads like you say. But I think it's rather clear, from the way I wrote my couple of paragraphs, that the real issue I'm tackling is the morality law, and other morality laws (non-violent drug felonies, etc.)
Spitzer was in a position to work to change morality laws if that was his inclination. He did not, and instead actively enforced them. His ran as a law and order, clean house kind of guy. He proved to be anything but. So if he is taken down by the laws he was part of enforcing, so be it. I see he just resigned, and that is the right result.
It's only on the front of the tabloids because of the hypocrisy and the sex. The potatoes involved are very small. Let's put things in perspective, and note that the word "controversies" here is used for neutrality, but ranges from suspicion of ethically dubious activity to blatant lawlessness.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:George_W._Bush_administration_controversies
Alleged retaliatory acts against opponents
* Plame affair
* Al Jazeera bombing memo
* Bunny Greenhouse
Controversies surrounding pre-Iraq war intelligence
* Iraq and weapons of mass destruction
* Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda
* Office of Special Plans
* Niger uranium forgeries
* Mobile weapons laboratory
* CIA leak grand jury investigation
* Downing Street memo
* Bush-Blair memo
Controversies surrounding human rights
* Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse
* Enhanced interrogation
* Extraordinary rendition
* Unlawful combatant
* John Negroponte
* Elliott Abrams
Controversies surrounding spying
* NSA call database
* NSA warrantless surveillance controversy
* Spying on the United Nations
Controversies surrounding propaganda
* Bush administration payment of columnists
* Lincoln Group
* White House Iraq Group
* Swift Vets and POWs for Truth
Controversies surrounding obstruction
* 2002 New Hampshire Senate election phone jamming scandal
* Commutation of Libby's sentence thereby allegedly obstructing an investigation into the possible manipulation of information in support of the invasion of Iraq
Controversies surrounding response to national crisis
* Criticism of government response to Hurricane Katrina
* Walter Reed Army Medical Center neglect scandal
Controversies involving influence / lobbying
* Energy Task Force
* Jack Abramoff lobbying of Interior Dept.
Controversies involving secrecy / censorship
* Executive Order 13233
* State Secrets Privilege
* Free speech zone
* EPA 9/11 pollution controversy
* Misrepresentation of cause of death of Pat Tillman
* Bush White House e-mail controversy (Use of Republican National Committee servers and private mail systems for Government business)
Controversies involving business / economics
* Halliburton
* Dubai Ports World controversy
* 2002 United States steel tariff
* Klamath River
Controversies surrounding nepotism / cronyism
* Michael D. Brown
* Harriet Miers Supreme Court nomination
* Uncle "Bucky"
* Sam Fox
* Howard Krongard
* Dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy
* Commutation of Libby's Sentence
Controversies surrounding the growth of executive power
* Unitary executive theory
* Signing statement
* Dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy
Controversies surrounding criminal acts of Administration officials
* Brian Doyle
* Claude Allen
* David Safavian
* Larry Franklin
* Roger Stillwell
* Frank Figueroa
* Darleen Druyun
* Lewis Libby
Controversies surrounding investigation of Administration officials or nominees
* Linda Chavez
* Philip Cooney
* George Deutsch
* Lurita Doan
* Timothy Flanigan
* Kyle Foggo
* J. Steven Griles
* Bernard Kerik
* Eric Keroack
* Howard Krongard
* Richard Perle
* Janet Rehnquist
* Susan Ralston
* James G. Roche
* Joseph E. Schmitz
* Kenneth Tomlinson
* Carl Truscott
It's only on the front of the tabloids because of the hypocrisy and the sex. The potatoes involved are very small. Let's put things in perspective, and note that the word "controversies" here is used for neutrality, but includes bungling incompetence, suspicion of ethically dubious activity, and truly blatant lawlessness (e.g. the wiretapping and the president's confession).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:George_W._Bush_administration_controversies
Alleged retaliatory acts against opponents
* Plame affair
* Al Jazeera bombing memo
* Bunny Greenhouse
Controversies surrounding pre-Iraq war intelligence
* Iraq and weapons of mass destruction
* Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda
* Office of Special Plans
* Niger uranium forgeries
* Mobile weapons laboratory
* CIA leak grand jury investigation
* Downing Street memo
* Bush-Blair memo
Controversies surrounding human rights
* Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse
* Enhanced interrogation
* Extraordinary rendition
* Unlawful combatant
* John Negroponte
* Elliott Abrams
Controversies surrounding spying
* NSA call database
* NSA warrantless surveillance controversy
* Spying on the United Nations
Controversies surrounding propaganda
* Bush administration payment of columnists
* Lincoln Group
* White House Iraq Group
* Swift Vets and POWs for Truth
Controversies surrounding obstruction
* 2002 New Hampshire Senate election phone jamming scandal
* Commutation of Libby's sentence thereby allegedly obstructing an investigation into the possible manipulation of information in support of the invasion of Iraq
Controversies surrounding response to national crisis
* Criticism of government response to Hurricane Katrina
* Walter Reed Army Medical Center neglect scandal
Controversies involving influence / lobbying
* Energy Task Force
* Jack Abramoff lobbying of Interior Dept.
Controversies involving secrecy / censorship
* Executive Order 13233
* State Secrets Privilege
* Free speech zone
* EPA 9/11 pollution controversy
* Misrepresentation of cause of death of Pat Tillman
* Bush White House e-mail controversy (Use of Republican National Committee servers and private mail systems for Government business)
Controversies involving business / economics
* Halliburton
* Dubai Ports World controversy
* 2002 United States steel tariff
* Klamath River
Controversies surrounding nepotism / cronyism
* Michael D. Brown
* Harriet Miers Supreme Court nomination
* Uncle "Bucky"
* Sam Fox
* Howard Krongard
* Dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy
* Commutation of Libby's Sentence
Controversies surrounding the growth of executive power
* Unitary executive theory
* Signing statement
* Dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy
Controversies surrounding criminal acts of Administration officials
* Brian Doyle
* Claude Allen
* David Safavian
* Larry Franklin
* Roger Stillwell
* Frank Figueroa
* Darleen Druyun
* Lewis Libby
Controversies surrounding investigation of Administration officials or nominees
* Linda Chavez
* Philip Cooney
* George Deutsch
* Lurita Doan
* Timothy Flanigan
* Kyle Foggo
* J. Steven Griles
* Bernard Kerik
* Eric Keroack
* Howard Krongard
* Richard Perle
* Janet Rehnquist
* Susan Ralston
* James G. Roche
* Joseph E. Schmitz
* Kenneth Tomlinson
* Carl Truscott
Oops. WTF is wrong with Gothamist's Apache server? Claims "internal error" over every first post... Then we wind up with double posts. My apologies!
I like the part where they say they are bringing in other E-Club girls