How Spitzer Got Caught

Gov. Future Still In Limbo

Story Created: Mar 10, 2008 at 1:20 PM EST

Story Updated: Mar 11, 2008 at 12:11 PM EST

Large movements of cash from accounts controlled by Governor Eliot Spitzer sent federal authorities searching for political corruption. What they found instead was a prostitution ring with at least one famous client, “Client 9” – Eliot Spitzer. The wiretaps that recorded Spitzer’s activities with the Emperors Club, a high priced, international call girl service, originated because the IRS suspected that political corruption was involved. It appears that Spitzer was a regular customer of the sex service, which charged several thousand dollars an hour.

Spitzer appeared in New York Monday afternoon and issued an apology to his family and “the public, to whom I promised better.” Spitzer did not admit to any role in the prostitution ring, but said he had acted “in a way that violates my obligations to my family and violates my, or any, sense of right and wrong.”

The first term Democrat has not been charged in connection with the investigation. The federal indictment was unsealed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan on Thursday, March 6th. In the indictment, a Emperors Club prostitute called Kristen talks about an “appointment” she had with “Client 9” at a Washington, D.C. hotel on February 13, 2008. “Client 9” has been identified as Gov. Eliot Spitzer.

The calls for Spitzer to resign have been loud and have been trumpeted by New York City’s tabloid newspapers. Two Republican state leaders have also been quite vocal in their urgings to the governor to resign. New York Republican Congressman Peter King says that Spitzer “has to resign.” Republican Assembly leader James Tedisco, who has been a strong political adversary of Spitzer, says that he will push the Assembly to impeach Spitzer if the governor doesn't resign in the next 48 hours.

If Spitzer should resign, Lieutenant Governor David Paterson would be sworn in as governor. Tedisco says he got a call from Paterson Tuesday morning. Tedisco said Paterson asked if he would consider a fresh start. Tedisco says Paterson called to ask if we, the Republicans in the Assembly, would give him the benefit of the doubt, and go forward. Tedisco says he told Paterson we would.
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