NEW ORLEANS, July 16, 2007
Sen. Vitter Denies Prostitution Charges
Louisiana Republican Apologizes For Past Actions, Says He Will Return To Work This Week
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Play CBS Video Video Sen. Vitter Issues An Apology CBS News RAW: With his wife standing by his side, Sen. David Vitter apologizes for his past actions in the wake of the "D.C. Madam" scandal.
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Sen. David Vitter, R-La., speaks to the media with his wife, Wendy, in Metairie, La., on July 16, 2007. (CBS)
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Jeanette Maier, former madam of a high-priced New Orleans brothel, poses for a photograph in Gretna, La., on July 10, 2007. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
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Interactive Political Scandals Politics can be a strange and dirty business. Check out some of the biggest missteps and mishaps in recent history.
Vitter, holding hands with his wife, Wendy, entered a news conference on Monday in suburban New Orleans where he again apologized for his past behavior and denied having relationships with New Orleans prostitutes.
"I want to again offer my deep, sincere apologies to all those I have let down and disappointed with actions from my past," Vitter said. "I am completely responsible, and I am so very, very sorry."
Vitter said that he and his wife had dealt with his past problems years ago and that she forgave him, reported CBS News affiliate WWL. He said that if his opponents wished to use his past failings to attack statements that he has made, "so be it."
"No matter how long ago it was, I know this hurt the relationship of trust I have enjoyed with so many of you, and I have a lot of work to do to rebuild that," he said.
He also offered no indication that he would resign. Instead, Vitter said he planned to continue working on the state's recovery after Hurricane Katrina.
"For my part, I'll be helping finalize a crucial water resources bill to provide much better hurricane and flood protection. I'll be fighting to complete I-49, Louisiana 28 and Louisiana 1 and much more," he said, adding that he planned to work for "good border and workplace security" as well.
On July 9, Vitter apologized for committing a "very serious sin in my past," acknowledging that his Washington phone number was among those called several years ago by an escort service run by Deborah Jeane Palfrey.
Federal prosecutors accuse Palfrey of racketeering by running a prostitution ring that netted more than $2 million over 13 years, beginning in 1993. She contends her escort service, Pamela Martin and Associates, was a legitimate business. Telephone records show that the service called Vitter's number five times from 1999 to 2001, while he was a U.S. representative.
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See all 237 CommentsPosted by didntinhale at 04:58 PM : Jul 17, 2007
Sheeeeeet, she could rock my world anytime!(looking around to see if wife is watching the keyboard)
Posted by didntinhale
Gee, I really never considered myself a liberal but after reading this I'm just wondering - does Anne have a sister?
By the way, I can't stop laughing . . .
Posted by toldyouso21
A high percent of republicans have **** critters or have been treated for them.
That is one reason not to date a republican.
(for reference see Ann Coulter)
You might want to let your hamster run across your keyboard. Your posts would be more logical.
From her hubby having unbridled beastie *** with prostitutes?
Hmmmmmmm. Wendy Bobbitt? ...er we mean Vitter---how's that HIV testing coming along?
Vitter, Clinton, Haggert, Foley, Bakker, all of them are hipocrites.
But I don't think Clinton has been in the news lately for his sexual indescretions. Vitter, the "Family Values Guy" has.
Posted by tejasdemo at 12:01 PM : Jul 17, 2007
Hell, he probably just had his secretary. Didn't her resume say she worked at the bunny ranch or some such drivel.
you are an absolute scum.
Please have your wife tested for the AIDS virus once a month.
You may want to explain to the children why daddy is taking mommy to the clinic.
Solution: Quit paying hookers for s/x.
Posted by wadyaknow at 10:25 AM : Jul 17, 2007
Spewed hate? Sounds like you might be doing some spewing there yourself.
Who is Professor Harold Hill?
His poor wife hauled up their on stage to be humiliated...
I feel sorry for her and all of the genuine relgious people duped by these phonies- Mark Foley and the Dennis Hassert cover-up, Ted Haggard, etc. Add Sen. Vitter now-
Pretty pathetic- "family values" to these guys means they look great in publicity pictures-
You can find the a copy of the letter at, go to http://www.vitter.senate.gov/forms/abstinenceLetter.pdf.
It seems like for 50 million dollars, he could find hookers for all the teenagers.
Actually, I'm the senator who lives in Louisiana, is back every week, and holds town hall meetings in every parish in the state.
Because traditional marriage is such a core social institution that predates both government and organized religion, I think this is about more than "two guys in love filing joint tax returns" -- like the way we raise children, meet the most basic of their emotional needs and transmit values to the next generation.
When marriage means anything or everything, it means nothing. It's trivialized and weakened as an institution. When it's all about adult individual rights, the interests of children and society suffer.
But then again, maybe the liberals are right.
Family stability, child-rearing, the transmission of values -- how trivial.
David Vitter
U.S. Senator
NOTE: I THINK THE VALUES HE TRANSMITTED TO HIS CHILDREN THIS PAST WEEK ARE WORSE THAN ANYTHING ANY GAY COUPLE WOULD TRANSMIT TO THEIR CHILDREN.
Washington
Hypocrites must be revealed and those infected with it must be excised.
If I were Vitter's wife, I'd get an AIDS test then divorce him
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See all 237 Comments