Story Created:
Jun 26, 2008 at 11:10 AM EST
Story Updated:
Jun 27, 2008 at 5:27 PM EST
Kristian Stiles. What is her role in the Spitzer scandal, and how is she connected to the campaign of Congressman Michael Arcuri?
Stiles was in her mid-20s when Eliot Spitzer began using her consulting and fundraising services. Since then, the former governor's campaign has paid her more a quarter of a million dollars.
Stiles has retained a Manhattan attorney to represent her while the federal government probes her as a potential witness in the Spitzer/high-priced call girl scandal. Attorney Charles Clayman says he has yet to speak with federal authorities.
Stiles was also on the payroll of local Congressman Michael Arcuri, who paid her $4,000 a month almost every month starting July 2007.
The Arcuri campaign's last payment to Stiles was March 18, 2008 - two days after the New York Times reported that the federal government was investigating Spitzer's payments to her.
When contacted on the matter, Arcuri's office responded saying:
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Kristian Stiles was employed by Arcuri for Congress as a fundraising consultant to help with fundraising in New York City. This job included organizing fundraising events in New York City.
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In March, Arcuri did not have any opposition and it was determined by the campaign that a fundraising consultant in New York City was unnecessary.
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Arcuri for Congress is currently looking at a number of consultants based on campaign needs going forward and has returned all campaign contributions from Governor Spitzer.
When looking at the expenditure reports of several other upstate and downstate members of Congress, as listed on the federal elections commission website, none we checked were found to be using her services. In fact, the vast majority of NY congress people use Washington, D.C.-based fundraising consultants. Congressman Arcuri also paid in excess of $40,000 to a D.C. - area fundraising firm.
Arcuri spokesperson Marion Read says Arcuri for Congress employed Kristian Stiles as a fundraising consultant to help with fundraising in New York City, and that in March, with no opposition for Arcuri, the campaign determined a fundraising consultant in New York City was unnecessary.
In May, we learned that Arcuri would have competition this Fall from Republican Richard Hanna....the campaign, however, has thus far not sought to retain the services of Kristian Stiles. Read says the Arcuri campaign is looking at a number of consultants based on campaign needs going forward and has returned all campaign contributions from Spitzer.
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