America’s worst governor linked to hookers? Update: The Emperor’s Club? Update: Spitzer to resign? Update: Spitzer apologizes; Update: Caught on federal wiretap; Update: Video added; no resignation; Update: Not indicted; Update: Hillary scrubs website of Spitzer references; Update: New details
posted at 2:23 pm on March 10, 2008 by Allahpundit
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First the illegal licenses debacle, then the Internet tax proposal, now this.
Wife and kids, so schadenfreude isn’t in order.
Gov. Eliot Spitzer has informed his most senior administration officials that he had been involved in a prostitution ring, an administration official said this morning.
Mr. Spitzer, who was huddled with his top aides early this afternoon, had hours earlier abruptly canceled his scheduled public events for the day. He is set to make an announcement about 2:15 this afternoon at his Manhattan office.
Mr. Spitzer, a first-term Democrat who pledged to bring ethics reform and end the often seamy ways of Albany, is married with three children…
Mr. Spitzer gained national attention when he served as attorney general with his relentless pursuit of Wall Street wrongdoing. As attorney general, he also had prosecuted at least two prostitution rings as head of the state’s organized crime task force.
Nice to have a sex scandal for once that doesn’t involve a Republican, eh? He’s due to speak any minute. Video coming. Stand by.
Update: Flip coins a phrase.
Update: Not yet confirmed, but the word from the New York Sun is that the ring in question is the Emperor’s Club, which was indicted last week. The timing of Spitzer’s announcement suggests he’s trying to beat them to the punch. Here’s the website. Which lucky lady or ladies will be the subject of a Barbara Walters special going forward?
Update: Prosecutors in the Emperor’s Club case say some of the women charged $5,500 an hour. How did Spitz come up with that bread?
Update: Incredible. Fox News says “sources” claim Spitzer’s on his way out. Mind you, this was a guy touted as a potential Democratic presidential nominee not long ago.
Update: Lawhawk e-mails to say that Spitz’s father is a real estate mogul so $5,500 an hour isn’t out of the question.
Update: Spitz is a Hillary superdelegate. Think she’ll be getting any awkward questions over this about high-profile politicians who cheat on their wives?
Update: Man, is this moving fast. Now sources tell Fox that Spitzer’s been indicted. Some new details from the Times story:
The governor’s travel records show that he was in Washington in mid-February. One of the clients described in court papers arranged to meet with a prostitute who was part of the ring, the Emperors Club VIP on the night of Feb. 13.
Mr. Spitzer appeared on a CNBC television show at 7 a.m. the next morning. Later in the morning, he testified before a Congressional committee.
An affidavit filed in federal court in Manhattan in connection with that case lists six conversations between the man, identified as Client 9, and a booking agent for the Emperors Club.
Update: Here’s the Fox News story claiming that Spitzer plans to resign.
Update: There was supposed to be a press conference at 2:15 but MM e-mails to say she’s seen nothing more than a brief livestream on the local NY stations of Spitzer apologizing without admitting culpability. Here’s her impromptu transcript:
“I apologize to my family. I apologize to the public to whom I promised better…I must now dedicate some time to regain the trust of my family”…No questions. No reference to the prostitution ring. No reference to resigning. No reference to indictment.
Update: Still more from the Times. Sloppy.
Gov. Eliot Spitzer has been caught on a federal wiretap arranging to meet with a high-priced prostitute at a Washington hotel last month, according to a person briefed on the federal investigation.
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 affidavit says that Client 9 met with the woman in hotel room 871 but does not identify the hotel. Mr. Spitzer stayed at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington on Feb. 13, according to a source who was told of his travel arrangements. Room 871 at the Mayflower Hotel that evening was registered under the another name.
Update: Via Slublog, the worst may be yet to come. Note the reference to unsafe practices.
Update: Here’s the video. No resignation.
Update: Cavuto is reporting now that the resignation will come later today.Update: Sloppiness by Fox — it looks like Spitzer hasn’t been indicted but merely named as one of the clients in the indictment against the ringleaders of the prostitution ring. Indictment coming under the Mann Act, perhaps? Stay tuned.
Update (Ed): This turned into a hot topic on the Ed Morrissey Show this afternoon, with Jazz Shaw contributing updates. CBS corroborates Cavuto — and says that David Paterson could be governor by 7 pm tonight.
Update: Radar reports that Hillary’s campaign site is suddenly Spitzer-free.
Update: Via Townhall, “Big deal,” says Dershowitz.
Update: The Times scours the FBI affidavit for details on “Client 9’s” rendezvous with “Kristen.” He’d used the service before, it seems, and was interested in pre-paying for his next appointment.
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Chortle.
Bob's Kid on March 10, 2008 at 3:34 PM
He is not a numbah, he is a free man!
benrand on March 10, 2008 at 3:35 PM
I’m sorry to see this story thrust into the public sphere at this point in time.
Too much fun watching the Barry & Hillary show.
moxie_neanderthal on March 10, 2008 at 3:35 PM
It’s always good to see kids take an interest in Danger!
Yes, Wall Street is very happy today.
kcluva on March 10, 2008 at 3:35 PM
“Where am I?”
“In DC.”
“What do you want?”
“Information.”
“Whose side are you on?”
“That would be telling…. We want information. Information! INFORMATION!”
“You won’t get it.”
“By hook or by crook, we will.”
“Who are you?”
“The new Number Two.”
“Who is Number One?”
“You are Client Number Nine.”
“I am not a number — I am a Governor!”
TheBigOldDog on March 10, 2008 at 3:35 PM
Usually, I don’t like reveling in anyone’s downfall. But his guy, I always had a feeling of disgust seeing him, watching him go after corporations. As the NYAG he was, in my evaluation, usually acting under the color of law seeking his indictments and subpoenas for information. Now I hope some of those convictions will be looked at again.
Wouldn’t you know, the most sanctimonious are usually the dirtiest. I clapped when I heard the news on the radio.
I fear I’l cheer when Clinton and McCainiac get theirs.
I’m not an Obamalama supporter, but since I appear to be the only one that’s gotten the news, “Liberty is dead,” I’d just soon get it buried and move one.
mksmithwriter on March 10, 2008 at 3:35 PM
Elliot should have learned from Bill and just not paid for it…
moxie_neanderthal on March 10, 2008 at 3:36 PM
Oh “Client number 9″…
It would be hilarious if someone could mix the Beatles Revolution 9 (especially the part toward the end where the little girl says, “if you become naked…) with a Spitzer montage.
watchmen on March 10, 2008 at 3:37 PM
Come on now, we all know Bush didn’t have anything to do with this, it was that magnificent bastard ROVE!
Liberty or Death on March 10, 2008 at 3:37 PM
I can’t believe he was this STUPID. What a chump.
kanda on March 10, 2008 at 3:37 PM
Rove, you magnificent bastard!
Travis Bickle on March 10, 2008 at 3:38 PM
Any respect shown to those men convicted under the corporate harassment by NYAG Spitzer.
Sorry. Not from this chair. Like most wives, she probably knew he was a cheater, just like Hil knew about Bill.
mksmithwriter on March 10, 2008 at 3:39 PM
Number 9 eh?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eds1_rmxIpw
thebrokenchair on March 10, 2008 at 3:39 PM
Obviously! He’s had a great deal of time on his hands since orchestrating the Rezko fiasco and the Clinton files drama.
moxie_neanderthal on March 10, 2008 at 3:39 PM
This will drag on forever. Smartest thing would have been to get him out of there and do damage control. I imagine the fallback defensive position will be to fingerpoint at Vitters from Louisiana as proof a single mistake can be overcome,..or something like that.
a capella on March 10, 2008 at 3:40 PM
video here
RushBaby on March 10, 2008 at 3:41 PM
Another one for the parodists–Apartment No. 9.
see-dubya on March 10, 2008 at 3:41 PM
I was wondering when the Prisoner jokes would start.
Techie on March 10, 2008 at 3:43 PM
I do have respect (and sympathy) for his family. Too bad Spitzer didn’t.
Can’t be too hard on the people getting some satisfaction from Spitzer’s fall. He set himself up as the family-oriented, anti-corruption crusader. He made a lot of enemies with his “steam roller” tactics. Now that his hypocrisy has been exposed, he can’t expect people to go easy on him.
AZCoyote on March 10, 2008 at 3:43 PM
High-level sources tell Fox that Spitzer’s resignation will be submitted to the state at 7PM EDT.
amerpundit on March 10, 2008 at 3:43 PM
A “birds of a feather” historical footnote:
Charles Manson’s first conviction was for violating the Mann Act, too. But of course he plays the guitar better than Guv Spitzer.
miles on March 10, 2008 at 3:43 PM
The video showing the pain in his wife’s face was hard to watch.
txsurveyor on March 10, 2008 at 3:43 PM
David Patterson is reportedly reaching out to a judge to swear him in.
amerpundit on March 10, 2008 at 3:43 PM
Never ceases to amaze me. Governor, senator, actor, sports superstar, everything in the palm of their hand and they shove something up their nose, or in their vein, or pull down their pants. I don’t feel sorry of any of them. They are grown up and have to live with the decisions they make.
Alcohol and drug rehab for Spitzer by 6pm. That’ll make everything go away.
Limerick on March 10, 2008 at 3:45 PM
This may already be out but according to Boston radio that had him on a wiretap setting up the appointment. Then the hooker (Christen) confirmed the Gov left, the appointment went well and Spitzer paid her $4,300.
TheBigOldDog on March 10, 2008 at 3:46 PM
Fun game: Find out how far you have to read into any story about this before the author mentions that he is a democrat. Typically, if it were a republic it is mentioned within the first sentence.This story never mentions this at all.
kurtzz3 on March 10, 2008 at 3:46 PM
I would consider this a perfect day if we could tie O’Malley into this somehow.
One can always dream….
nukemhill on March 10, 2008 at 3:47 PM
“America’s worst governor…”? Apparently you know nothing about Michigan. At least New York isn’t in a “1 state depression”, with it’s governor trying to take money out of state-workers’ pensions and retirement funds.
Virus-X on March 10, 2008 at 3:48 PM
Musta had a coupon….
CBarker on March 10, 2008 at 3:49 PM
I took my troubles down to Madame Rue
You know that gypsy with the gold-capped tooth
She runs the Emperors Club down on Thirty-Fourth and Vine
Sellin’ little bottles of Love Potion Number Nine
I told her that I was a flop with chics
I’ve been this way since 2006
She looked at my palm and she made a magic sign
She said “From now on you’ll be known as, Client Number Nine”
She bent down and turned around and gave me a wink
She said “I’m gonna make it up right here in the sink”
It smelled like turpentine, it looked like Indian ink
I held my nose, I closed my eyes, I took a drink
I didn’t know if it was day or night
I started kissin’ everything in sight
When I got to Hotel Room number 871 I was feelin fine
I knocked on the door and said, “It’s Client Number 9″
Client Number Nine
Client Number Nine
Client Number Ni-i-i-i-iiine
SilverStar830 on March 10, 2008 at 3:49 PM
Dang, this story is moving fast…
someguy on March 10, 2008 at 3:50 PM
Awesomely awesome.
Frozen Tex on March 10, 2008 at 3:51 PM
Rep. Peter King (R-NY) is vouching for Lt. Gov. Patterson as an good man. He slams Spitzer, on the other hand, as self-centered.
amerpundit on March 10, 2008 at 3:51 PM
I voted for Spitzer (because Fasso struck me as a bad candidate) and that has been a wise decision, given Spitzer’s previous problems, and now this.
Mister Mets on March 10, 2008 at 3:52 PM
Feb 13….Happy Valentines day honey
windansea on March 10, 2008 at 3:52 PM
Sorry, hard to feel sorry for this jerk.
The_Freeze on March 10, 2008 at 3:53 PM
As Lipton would say, “Brilliant!”
Yeah, I hardly watch them anymore. There’s really no news out there to trust, now. Had to go back to reading between the lines. Thankfully, I’m a trained journalist and easily see through the bias.
mksmithwriter on March 10, 2008 at 3:53 PM
Does this officially make Duval Patrick the worst governor in the country or does he have to fight with Grenholm for it?
SuperCool on March 10, 2008 at 3:53 PM
What kind of “unsafe” kink do you suppose Spitzer likes to work out at $4300 a pop?
cool breeze on March 10, 2008 at 3:53 PM
Speak for yourself. My laugh lines have laugh lines.
Spanglemaker on March 10, 2008 at 3:54 PM
I hope that they allow their hookers to wear blinders when they service ugly men like Elliot.
If Spitzer ends up resigning I will go into shock. After all, he’s a Demo; Demos don’t step down when they’re found in compromising positions because of their ‘personal mistakes’ or any other reason. Billy is the perfect example.
So, I find Spitzer full of Clintonesque chutzpah and saying that ‘politics isn’t about individuals’ just tops the septic tank.
Also, I feel a lawsuit against the Fed wiretap coming up…’It isn’t faaaaaair…I’m not a terrorist, but you’re terrorizing meeeeeee!
Christine on March 10, 2008 at 3:54 PM
Pretty worthless apology. Sounded like a campaign speech with some other stuff kind of mixed in.
pedestrian on March 10, 2008 at 3:54 PM
I think SNL might have some new material for this coming Saturday…
D2Boston on March 10, 2008 at 3:55 PM
True. And, sad.
mksmithwriter on March 10, 2008 at 3:55 PM
Gee, he may be the first politician to ever get a 100% disapproval rating (since he was at 80%).
scalleywag on March 10, 2008 at 3:56 PM
Who is the woman in the video standing closely behind his right shoulder? Is that his wife?
SilverStar830 on March 10, 2008 at 3:56 PM
what’s the difference between the $5,500 hooker and the $2,995 one?
scalleywag on March 10, 2008 at 3:57 PM
Pile on!!!
Akzed on March 10, 2008 at 3:57 PM
I expect Spitzer to do the same thing any other democrat would do.
Acknowledge he didn’t live up to the peoples trust and apologize. He will then say that he will do better in the future and accepts responsibility for his actions.
Will he do what is expected of a republican in the same circumstances, and resign? I really doubt it. Public humility is seen as punishment enough, at least from the NYT perspective.
belad on March 10, 2008 at 3:57 PM
And he can blame his addictions on the stressful job of destroying all those alleged corporate cheats! It’s all THEIR fault.
Sheesh.
Liberty is dead - someone please turn off the fu%^#ng lights!!!
mksmithwriter on March 10, 2008 at 3:57 PM
Don’t blame me, I voted for Faso.
So did I!
Twice, in fact.
Unfortunately, the electorate of this state is comprised primarily of zombies.
Gerard on March 10, 2008 at 3:57 PM
Looks like he had 3 teenaged daughters. How disgusting is the example he set for his beautiful little girls.
Very very sad.
stenwin77 on March 10, 2008 at 3:57 PM
I believe so.
amerpundit on March 10, 2008 at 3:57 PM
Dude, if you can’t tell by looking, you’re not a real dude.
mksmithwriter on March 10, 2008 at 3:58 PM
Still feel sorry for his family, however,
Fantastic turn on the libs…
Branch Rickey on March 10, 2008 at 3:59 PM
You don’t buy a $5k hooker, you pay a hooker $5K to not run to the press after finishing the cigarette.
Techie on March 10, 2008 at 3:59 PM
I’d say that bush is indeed to blame.
baldilocks on March 10, 2008 at 4:00 PM
I’m not a dude! haha.
scalleywag on March 10, 2008 at 4:00 PM
This dirt bag has many, many enemies and very soon all of them will be hovering over his twitching liberal carcass.
rplat on March 10, 2008 at 4:00 PM
THE BULLDOZER GOT PLOWED
As a New Yorker, this is a net positive.
Mattpat11 on March 10, 2008 at 4:01 PM
Done.
amerpundit on March 10, 2008 at 4:02 PM
I always feel sorry for the wives at these press conferences. Unlike Hillary, they are not involved
in politics.
RobCon on March 10, 2008 at 4:03 PM
Ugh. Like I said in my first post in this thread, she’d be making the obligatory tv appearance in support of her man. It only took her a couple of hours. I was figuring a few days at least. She looked pretty relaxed, even confident and happy. She even looked at him approvingly as he spoke. I dunno. Maybe they have an “open marriage”? He screws whores for hire and she screws the paper boy?
Scumbag politicians and their wives who take it publicly without even flinching are a dime a dozen these days. I guess the gravy train matters more than their own self-esteem and scruples… or their childrens sense of values and morals for that matter.
SilverStar830 on March 10, 2008 at 4:03 PM
He’s toast. He may not go at just this moment, but he’s on the way out. No two ways about it.
Scuzz-ball.
seanrobins on March 10, 2008 at 4:03 PM
geez. watching that video you don’t get the sense that, after this and all his other mistakes, he realizes what a cluster f*** he is.
meandchi on March 10, 2008 at 4:04 PM
Time for some schadenfreude pay back.
RobCon on March 10, 2008 at 4:04 PM
Democrats don’t resign or behave in a contrite manner.
I hope the Feds try him on a RICO charge.
It fits the acts.
Is he embarassed, nope, Democrats have no shame!
His Family is humiliated but He is above the Law!
What a horses a$$!
old trooper on March 10, 2008 at 4:05 PM
Life is like a ring of hookers….
Governor Gump
Hening on March 10, 2008 at 4:05 PM
I love how he hit on all left-wing cylinders emphasizing “progressive” and “change” during his political apology.
ninjapirate on March 10, 2008 at 4:05 PM
$2505
cool breeze on March 10, 2008 at 4:05 PM
snap! had that one coming! haha
scalleywag on March 10, 2008 at 4:06 PM
If only Guilianni had run for Governor instead of President, NYS would have been spared this
AverageJoe on March 10, 2008 at 4:06 PM
I wish that would stop the left at moments like these but it doesn’t.
RobCon on March 10, 2008 at 4:07 PM
Makes me wonder if any “pretty” “young”, “fresh” girls have been killed in the last few weeks. The clients and or the Club would surely want to eliminate any problems.
faraway on March 10, 2008 at 4:07 PM
Wow, a beautiful wife and three lovely teenage daughters wasn’t enough to deter him from scummy behavior.
hoosiermama on March 10, 2008 at 4:07 PM
Spitzer already had an 80% negative rating in the most recent poll. No way he survives this.
Rudy for Governor!
rockmom on March 10, 2008 at 4:08 PM
Anyone wanna take a stab tomorrow’s NY Post headline?
kcluva on March 10, 2008 at 4:08 PM
If he were to actually run for re-election, how much does anybody want to bet that the people who put him in office in the first place would actually vote for him a second time? Happened before.
dssniagara on March 10, 2008 at 4:08 PM
Savor, Joe Bruno, savor
RobCon on March 10, 2008 at 4:08 PM
You’re kidding. Right?
She’s nuzzled up right there on his shoulder smiling and nodding approvingly. Even looking at him lovingly. Respect? More like disgust.
SilverStar830 on March 10, 2008 at 4:08 PM
A really bitchin cuddle afterward.
Chuck Schick on March 10, 2008 at 4:09 PM
hey spitzers overnight poll numbers will go way up.
custer on March 10, 2008 at 4:10 PM
If that was my wife I’d wake up to find lil’CBarker superglued to my leg…
CBarker on March 10, 2008 at 4:10 PM
I’m sorry for his wife and children.
coleporter on March 10, 2008 at 4:11 PM
Good grief! That’ll make nice playback at Kos. Unless you have proof otherwise, I’ll bet his wife and kids were blindsided by this. I feel sorry for them.
a capella on March 10, 2008 at 4:12 PM
Does it say whose money he used to purchase these services, his or the state coffers?
scalleywag on March 10, 2008 at 4:12 PM
This is why I think Spitzer might resign. It is one thing to diddle with hookers but an entirely different thing if the state was bankrolling his entertainment. The hooker story is a non-sequitor to public corruption in the same way that McGreevy distracted his corruption by coming out of the closet.
I also think that if Spitzer were not going to resign he would have said so during the presser. Something along the lines of “this is a private matter for my and my family to work through. It will in no way distract me from doing my job as your governor.” Running from the room is not a good sign for Eliot’s supporters. Personally, I’ve always found him an opportunistic weasel whose public disgrace will be a source of joy not sorrow.
highhopes on March 10, 2008 at 4:14 PM
Fox video about this online says Cuomo had been investigating Spitzer.
See what Rush started? The Dems are eating their own!!!
HILarious!
mksmithwriter on March 10, 2008 at 4:14 PM
I imagine it’s like the difference between a $200 watch and a $2000 watch. They both keep time about the same, but one has a few more options, looks a little better… and serves as a status symbol.
Hollowpoint on March 10, 2008 at 4:16 PM
According to
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/0310082spitzer4.html
the money included a deposit for future appointments so that he wouldn’t have to wait next time for payment to arrive. Client 9 didn’t want to use wire transfer, so he mailed cash, and so he was paying more this time to get a credit balance to avoid delay. 4 hours “cuddling” was included.
pedestrian on March 10, 2008 at 4:16 PM
I wish now I would have timed it. How predictable. It’s never, ever their fault.
jewells45 on March 10, 2008 at 4:16 PM
From CNN
snort
scalleywag on March 10, 2008 at 4:17 PM
“Wife and kids, so schadenfreude isn’t in order.”
Uh, by posting this story you have to expect schadenfreude, by some. I don’t think anyone here gets their jollies by thinking about the pain this waste of skin has caused his family, but I do enjoy seeing Elliot’s karma biting him on the butt. What his family has to go thru to heal from this is nothing compared to the path that lays before #9.
I heard that there’s a deal going on behind the scenes in trying to decide who will take Elliot’s place. I stand corrected if Spitzer actually does the right thing and steps down.
Christine on March 10, 2008 at 4:18 PM
$5.5k for an hour…..that is….that is…600 12 packs!
Sorry ladies. A man must have his priorities straight.
Limerick on March 10, 2008 at 4:18 PM
In defense,
At least, he had the Common Decency to resign, rather than drag everyone through a long, drawn-out impeachment proceeding.
Mebbe’, there’s hope for ‘em, yet
franksalterego on March 10, 2008 at 4:18 PM
there’s a similar prostitution ring in charlotte that got busted recently, that apparently alot of big whigs locally and NFL/NBA types used. One of them apparently wrote a check for 1500 bucks and on the memo line labled it for, “web development”. Which caught the eye of the Feds, so the names may be coming out for the tax fraud side of it.
jp on March 10, 2008 at 4:19 PM
A really bitchin cuddle afterward.
Chuck Schick on March 10, 2008 at 4:09 PM
hey, you were right!
scalleywag on March 10, 2008 at 4:19 PM
I just don’t get his wife standing there next to him during the press appearance looking like the adoring wife. What is she thinking?????? “I’m taking the high road and honoring the ‘for better or for worse’ part of my vows”???? I’m sorry–standing by your husband when he’s violated your trust and the sanctity of your marriage, disgraced your daughters by PAYING to have sex with young women is NOT part of any marriage vow I’m familiar with. What is wrong with her??? I’d be throwing him AND his dirty laundry out on the governor’s mansion’s lawn for all the world to see. Yes, it will SUCK for her children to learn their father is a reprehensible SCHMUCK, but the alternative is to somehow excuse his behavior. I understand being forgiving, but how do you forgive being humiliated in front of the free world??? And so quickly???
birddog on March 10, 2008 at 4:20 PM
“Oh my, Spitzer, what big ears you have”
“The better to hear my career crash, my dear”
GoodBoy on March 10, 2008 at 4:21 PM
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