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 (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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Were the athletes the customers or the employees?
baldilocks on March 10, 2008 at 4:21 PM
Standing by her man. Disgusting. Maybe she hoped to be governor after his two terms.
The arrogance of these people: “Politics are not about the individual, but about ideas.”
In other words, hey, it’s about my ideas, NOT my IDEALS.
Disgusting disgusting disgusting.
Communists behave this way – no questions.
Liberty is dead.
mksmithwriter on March 10, 2008 at 4:21 PM
I am shocked that a politician has been linked to a call girl ring..LOL! Great job to the Feds that caught this rich arrogant SOB. The Democrats fighting over the presidential nomination and now a hooker scandal..This is a early Xmas gift..
D84 on March 10, 2008 at 4:22 PM
CBS in NYC is reporting that Spitzer has resigned
William Amos on March 10, 2008 at 4:22 PM
The Lt. Gov, David Patterson, is blind. He would be a blind governor. No offense to blind people, but how could this guy be the Governor of a state? Have everybody read stuff out to him?
malan89 on March 10, 2008 at 4:23 PM
Any Emporer models better be in hiding right now.
faraway on March 10, 2008 at 4:23 PM
He had to get some advice from Marv Albert…
benrand on March 10, 2008 at 4:23 PM
The site is now down, I suppose that is a good first step.
F15Mech on March 10, 2008 at 4:27 PM
Sorry, no joy here. The thought of a married father of three having to say in public that needs to regain the trust of his family makes me shake. Poor guy. I pray that he is able to do so, and nothing else matters.
And I am no fan.
Jaibones on March 10, 2008 at 4:30 PM
Any dead girls showing up in your state?
faraway on March 10, 2008 at 4:31 PM
What’s up with the reference to unsafe practices? Clearly, Spitzer was well-known by the girls for being “difficult” because of asking for behavior that can be dangerous. Hmmmm…
petefrt on March 10, 2008 at 4:31 PM
Just once, I’d really like to see the scorned WIFE of the sleezy politician give the RESIGNATION speech.
stenwin77 on March 10, 2008 at 4:32 PM
Are you not familiar with Braille and TTDY?
Badger91 on March 10, 2008 at 4:33 PM
“My bastard soon-to-be-ex-husband is quitting, effective immediately. Any questions? No? Good, get the f^ck offa my lawn.”
Frozen Tex on March 10, 2008 at 4:34 PM
customers….supposedly big name athletes, businessmen and govt. officials. google, ‘hushhush.com’ and ‘charlotte’.
jp on March 10, 2008 at 4:34 PM
BTW interesting question. IF Spitzer does resign does this have an impact in the PResidentual race ?
Im mean in the sense now there will be a new governor and questions will come up if he is capible of handling the state. Will these same questions come up for McCain or hillary or Obama ? Or even their VP selections ?
William Amos on March 10, 2008 at 4:34 PM
Poor guy!?!
I thought this was a conservative blog.
Should it not be, poor woman? Poor children?
Gimme’ a fu*%#*ng break!
mksmithwriter on March 10, 2008 at 4:35 PM
I am strangely unmoved by her pain; I’m sure the wives of the people targeted by Spitzer’s nasty and exaggerated accusations had pain on their faces too. Spitzer’s ginned-up jihad against the supposed malefactors of great wealth on Wall Street ruined people’s careers and hurt a lot of companies. And by some fluke, the companies and executives that contributed to Spitzer’s campaigns never seemed to be in violation of the law. Unlike the rest of us, Mrs. Spitzer agreed to marry this arrogant, bullying lowlife; she will now have the opportunity to see how strong her marriage actually is. What’s truly newsworthy is to see a Grade-A gold-plated douchebag get his comeuppance while the dish is still warm.
Travis Bickle on March 10, 2008 at 4:37 PM
Exactly and I’m much more concerned at the screwing the American people have been getting than anything that went on in this case. Spitzer is a political azzclown but I take no joy in seeing anyone destroy their family publicly.
Buzzy on March 10, 2008 at 4:38 PM
The impact will be minimal. It’s a “liberal” press doing it’s best to get a Dem elected…oh, wait. I forgot. Both parties are Dems this year.
Sorry.
Seriously, it should remind people of Hil and Bill Act I and Act II. People will want even less of a possibility now for Act III.
Welcome to the Obamalama Show!
mksmithwriter on March 10, 2008 at 4:38 PM
OR…
I’m sorry for all of you people who believed in my husband, and had faith that he was trustworthy. I FEEL YOUR PAIN.
My soon-to-be-former-Husband is not able to talk right now, until he is fitted for dentures after the swelling goes down.
He is also finding that walking is uncomfortable. I have suggested that he “put some ice on
itthem”.I don’t remember throwing either the ashtrays or the lamps.
Are there any questions?
stenwin77 on March 10, 2008 at 4:39 PM
how long has spitz been governor? 14 months?
jp on March 10, 2008 at 4:39 PM
Eeeeeeeee-heheheehehhehehehrhehehehehehehehehehe!!!!
blatantblue on March 10, 2008 at 4:40 PM
imagine what would happen on the left if the larry sinclair stuff turned out to be true somehow.
jp on March 10, 2008 at 4:40 PM
You win; I like yours better!
Frozen Tex on March 10, 2008 at 4:40 PM
Worth the price of admission.
mksmithwriter on March 10, 2008 at 4:40 PM
Hillary…so one of your biggest supporters was getting BJ’s from a hooker?
…….
NY Times
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
sabbott on March 10, 2008 at 4:40 PM
Sorry. I wasn’t really asking. It was just glancing commentary on the well-known, shall we say, unchastity of professional athletes–esp. NBA players.
baldilocks on March 10, 2008 at 4:41 PM
That’s better than having the little guy superglued to the wall across the room from the bed. With you still in the bed!
I R A Darth Aggie on March 10, 2008 at 4:42 PM
Hubris.
Pulchritudinous Patriot on March 10, 2008 at 4:43 PM
So Barack, the Democratic Governor of one of the biggest states in the country was hiring hookers?
I believe we need change in the United States. Change that we can both hope for and change that we hopefully change for! Change is for the future and hope is for the future and I stand for the future dedicated to change and hope! A future without change and hope is a future without hope and change and this is a future without hope! We cannot move America forward wtihout hope and change and this cannot be accomplished without change. Real Change requires real hope and real hope requires real hope and real hope requires real change. That is what i stand for. Yes We Can…Yes We can…Yes We can!!!
sabbott on March 10, 2008 at 4:46 PM
I bet the “normal unsafe practices” would include going condom-free.
ninjapirate on March 10, 2008 at 4:47 PM
Now wait just one minute…I’m not dead, I’m right here posting on HA!! Although it could be many on this site having read some of my posts wish the above rumor were true…hehe/sarc
Liberty or Death on March 10, 2008 at 4:50 PM
I heard that BillyJeff just called Spitzer…
..About being his running mate
ConservativePartyNow on March 10, 2008 at 4:50 PM
Spitz merely had the ‘audacity of hope’ to think he would not get caught. how inspiring…
jp on March 10, 2008 at 4:51 PM
Spitzer doesnt hear so well. He heard “Audacity of Ho’s”
faraway on March 10, 2008 at 4:52 PM
To quote from Austin Powers…”well which one is it baby, spitz or swallows…?”
Liberty or Death on March 10, 2008 at 4:54 PM
Not resigning? Dang! He needs to.
rbj on March 10, 2008 at 4:55 PM
Spitzer’s hypocracy is almost a funny as CNN and Headline News almost totally ignoring this story……or at least dragging their feet when we all know that if this was a Republican Governor it would be wall to wall coverage.
C’mon Blitz-boy—–give us the shocking details
Rovin on March 10, 2008 at 4:57 PM
Dershowitz must be a client as well…
not resigning may be good for the repubs?
jp on March 10, 2008 at 4:58 PM
I haven’t read thru all the comments, so I apologize if someone has beaten me to it, but…
Do you think the call girl Spitzer swallows?
mikeyboss on March 10, 2008 at 4:58 PM
Elliot Spitzer goes out with a BANG!!!!
mhexel on March 10, 2008 at 4:58 PM
Yeah, I understand what you’re getting at….but with the interaction and the workload of a Governor…I’d imagine that he would be at a great disadvantage.
malan89 on March 10, 2008 at 4:58 PM
Anyone else catch that the AP news story that broke never once mentioned that Spitz is a Democrat?
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8VAP40O0&show_article=1
Interesting no?
ApartforHaShem on March 10, 2008 at 4:59 PM
I could do those all day. There are so many of them.
malan89 on March 10, 2008 at 4:59 PM
and this is the story being picked up all around the country in local papers…sick.
how often did they let us know which party Larry Craig was from?
the goodnews is that Spitz was somewhat of a high profile governor, many will automatically know he was a
scumbagDemocratjp on March 10, 2008 at 5:00 PM
I sympathize with his children, but he deserves the humiliation and shame.
bojack on March 10, 2008 at 5:01 PM
He’s not going anywhere!
Don’t you guys see it? He’s a Democrat! This is his pre-requisite for higher office! ;)
newton on March 10, 2008 at 5:02 PM
Anyone else get the view from the dialog between “Lewis” and “Kristen” that this cowboy and been touring the rodeo circuit for awhile and had a reputation for being a rough rider who likes to take chances in the saddle?
PappaMac on March 10, 2008 at 5:02 PM
He apparently has no sympathy for his own children, why should I?
The pathetic thing is, his three kids are all girls. Shows he has no respect for women at all.
Best thing for them is this man out of their life forever.
And their mother, too, for supporting him.
Scum of the earth. Adulterers should be stoned like the old days.
mksmithwriter on March 10, 2008 at 5:07 PM
“I have disappointed and failed to live up to the standard I expected of myself”
The context line is missing from this article where Spitzer said, “I was just as shocked as the rest of you when I woke up this morning and found out that I had been having sex with whores.”
ApartforHaShem on March 10, 2008 at 5:08 PM
mksmithwriter on March 10, 2008 at 5:10 PM
I was living in Brooklyn when he ran for and gained the office. One day during lunch my coworkers and I were eating sandwiches and reading the city’s rags when I announced, “Hmmm, I don’t like the looks of this Spitzer guy.” My friend next to me, a black-clad anarcho-liberal type looked at and said defensively, “Why not? Spitzer is a brilliant lawyer, yadda yadda yadda.” He got really defensive…
Gut feeling checked out it seems.
Dr. Manhattan on March 10, 2008 at 5:11 PM
Just a ghost. A ghost is a spirit that refuses to accept death.
Relax, breath easy. There’s a better place. Let it go ’cause -
Liberty, you’re fired!
mksmithwriter on March 10, 2008 at 5:11 PM
Did Spitzer use “Funky Cold Medina” to get action?
Hmmm… Tone Loc speculates -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zligio51yP4
olympian2008 on March 10, 2008 at 5:15 PM
I posted this earlier mikey: To quote from Austin Powers…”well which one is it baby, spitz or swallows…?”
Liberty or Death on March 10, 2008 at 4:54 PM
Liberty or Death on March 10, 2008 at 5:19 PM
LOL…I shall never “give up the ghost…”
Liberty or Death on March 10, 2008 at 5:20 PM
Corzine just said on Hardball to Matthews that “with his wife standing up there at his side, you can’t help but feel compassion for the man”
Gag me!
Rovin on March 10, 2008 at 5:21 PM
My guess would be that unsafe probably means unprotected…
Kevin71 on March 10, 2008 at 5:24 PM
I wonder what Geraldo’s take on Spitzer will be
pappy on March 10, 2008 at 5:24 PM
cuz I think he was pro Spitzer
pappy on March 10, 2008 at 5:25 PM
Over on HuffPost, they are crying that such an honorable fighter of corporations has been set up by the Republicans. They are also blaming Republicans for the Florida debacle.hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
adamsmith on March 10, 2008 at 5:27 PM
It’s not just a case of him being unfaithful to his wife. Spitz was using hookers. Sorry but the ole’ sympathy meter isn’t registering a reading. Guy had it all and threw it away.
Hog Wild on March 10, 2008 at 5:28 PM
or whips and chains…
bojack on March 10, 2008 at 5:28 PM
My uncle was blind from the age of 12, yet still managed to run a company. He went from a working-class background to comfortably wealthy. Not rich, but nicely well-off.
Governor? It can be done. Besides braille and “talking books”, there are a lot of text-to-speech programs out there that make “reading” the internet or other computerized documents possible for blind people. I would guess that there are few important documents requiring a Governor’s attention that aren’t available in electronic form.
I wouldn’t say it’s easy. But I also wouldn’t dismiss the Lt. Governor’s prospects due to blindness.
Anton on March 10, 2008 at 5:31 PM
women adulterers too?
windansea on March 10, 2008 at 5:32 PM
It would be the smartest thing for the majority of regular thinking individuals like you and I, but not for narcissists like Eliot Spitzer. Like his buddies, Bill and Hilary Clinton, Eliot is so convinced of his own “brilliance” that he believes he too can redefine the meaning of the word “is”.
This is his attempt at redefining the meaning of the word “is”. Thus his refusal to resign, and so to his non-apology, apology.
RMR on March 10, 2008 at 5:33 PM
Some one should remind a few of these “journalist” that useing the phrase “Spitzer may ride this scandal out” is a poor choice of words. It was the ride that got him into this predicament.
Rovin on March 10, 2008 at 5:36 PM
So that’s it. If you want to take down a politician, you catch them conducting sexual improprieties.
Unless your last name happens to be Clinton…
Et tu Brute on March 10, 2008 at 5:36 PM
Oh hell yeah. Smaller rocks, maybe.
I’m all for equal, babe.
mksmithwriter on March 10, 2008 at 5:38 PM
Or I should say, like Redford’s character in “Brubaker,” – “One standard, for everybody.”
mksmithwriter on March 10, 2008 at 5:39 PM
After his name put Democrat..
They do that to Republicans, each time something comes up even baseless charges..
Democrat Eliot Spitzer did this.. he did that..
NY Governor Eliot Spitzer a Democrat, did this.. blah blah..
Get some play out it.
Chakra Hammer on March 10, 2008 at 5:40 PM
I just thought of a funny parody song…
“As Client 9″ sung to the “love potion number 9″
Dooooo it.
WayWard Fundamentalist Christian on March 10, 2008 at 5:40 PM
I think you are being a bit hard on the wife. She didn’t have anything to do with his bringing down people on Wall Street. Hillary’s the only politician’s wife that had hands-on experience while her husband was in office.
txsurveyor on March 10, 2008 at 5:43 PM
So what exactly cost $5500? Did he make this broad dress up like the Merrill Lynch bull?
Chuck Schick on March 10, 2008 at 5:45 PM
Que the Searchers!
linkie
WayWard Fundamentalist Christian on March 10, 2008 at 5:45 PM
In the picture Fox is using, it looks like his wife knocked all his teeth out.
Rod on March 10, 2008 at 5:45 PM
James Carville on CNN just tried to blame the FBI for the Gov. Spitzer scandal!
davenp35 on March 10, 2008 at 5:48 PM
They usually charge an extra $500 to bring the doberman.
bojack on March 10, 2008 at 5:48 PM
Using hookers paid from state coffers I would guess.
Rod on March 10, 2008 at 5:56 PM
Al Dershowitz is a tool. Excuse us for having morals….A$$HAT!!
PappaMac on March 10, 2008 at 6:01 PM
This arrogant sleazeball has to resign. He committed crimes. I can’t wait to see his perp walk.
The NY Republicans should be screaming for his resignation. Same with the NY Conservative Party.
Iblis on March 10, 2008 at 6:02 PM
This will so tarnish the democratic party here in NY that voters will reject all of the party’s candidates and vote republican to send them the message. NY will be colored RED in the general election.
Yeah, right.
AverageJoe on March 10, 2008 at 6:04 PM
Beautiful American Justice. A great day indeed.
Americans watch the sanctimonious scum like Spitzer become trumped up to the point of god-like status. All of the magazine stories, the photo shoots, the talk of the crusader, etc. And we tolerate that, but we keep it in mind. In trade for the pedestal comes a monstrous expectation to live up to the prescribed deity status.
And so when there is a slip, we crucify. And not because we are all Puritans, but because we have an enormous sense of justice. And this justice crosses the aisle. Although the media will paint conservatives as worse in the same circumstances. Either way, if you are trumped up as a deity, you better live up to it.
But this is a great thing. In trade for the pedestal Spitzer was put upon, we expect a new level of scrutiny and fair play. He misses, he goes down. American justice. Beautiful.
Lord Acton is cheering from his grave, and Bill Shakespeare is impressed with the fallen hero story.
Obama, note to self: Check closet.
JeffB. on March 10, 2008 at 6:04 PM
Watching Brit Hume…Spitzer was using the name of one of his own donors, George Fox! LOL
WisCon on March 10, 2008 at 6:06 PM
Any possibility the Spitzer may know names of other “clients”, and may use this in some way to try to hang on to his political career? Someone must have refered him to the “Emperor’s Club”.
AverageJoe on March 10, 2008 at 6:08 PM
I feel bad for his wife and his kids. Obviously this is more than embarassing for them.
I feel ZERO sympathy for him (or the democrat party).
SouthernGent on March 10, 2008 at 6:08 PM
A thousand pardons :)
mikeyboss on March 10, 2008 at 6:10 PM
I had seen his statement with the dutiful wife behind him. Why do these arrogant, egotistic slime bring their spouses up there. I wish I could refrain from thinking of the word ” golddigger”. This guy was so arrogant, so incredibly hostile to those of us who were against his wishing to issue driver’s licenses to illegals. I still remember his steam roller statement. Would that I could feel sorry for him, I don’t. Oh, I’m not holding my breath for his resignation, BTW
MNDavenotPC on March 10, 2008 at 6:13 PM
Oh, and if he resigns, and the Lt. Governor takes over, does he serve out the term, or would there be a special election in November?
Iblis on March 10, 2008 at 6:15 PM
Heh, no one knows better how pro “spit-zer” Geraldo is then MM for sure!
Liberty or Death on March 10, 2008 at 6:16 PM
LOL! This is when we see what real men are made of ,..when the going gets tough,…. the tough blame the FBI.
a capella on March 10, 2008 at 6:17 PM
I don’t think his wife was looking at him lovingly. She looked pretty miserable to me.
mikeyboss on March 10, 2008 at 6:17 PM
Why hasn’t this pug resigned yet? I hope his wife and kids gets AIDS tested for the next 12 months.
…I fell not one iota of sympathy for his wife anyway. She’s up there nuzzling close with approving nods as he blathers. She’s riding the gravy train. If she was smart, and I doubt she is but payback on that slimeball is justification enough, she’d divorce him and take him for all his blueblood bucks, settle down on some beach in an exclusive ritzy upper-crusty neighborhood, and have her way with the cabana boys until the day she dies.
SilverStar830 on March 10, 2008 at 6:18 PM
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