N.Y. Gov. Linked To Prostitute

Eliot Spitzer Apologizes To Family, Public But Does Not Elaborate; Source Says Gov. Caught On Wiretap

(CBS/AP)  Gov. Eliot Spitzer, the crusading politician who built his career on rooting out corruption, apologized Monday after he was accused of involvement in a prostitution ring. He did not elaborate on the scandal, which drew calls for his resignation.

His stoic wife at his side, Spitzer told reporters at a hastily called news conference: "I have acted in a way that violates my obligations to my family."

"I have disappointed and failed to live up to the standard I expected of myself," he said. "I must now dedicate some time to regain the trust of my family."

Spitzer's involvement in the ring was caught on a federal wiretap as part of an investigation opened in recent months, according to a law enforcement official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing inquiry.

The New York Democrat, identified in legal papers as "Client 9," met last month with at least one woman in a Washington hotel, the law enforcement official said.

Law enforcement officials who have been briefed on the case tell CBS News the Washington rendezvous captured by a federal wiretap happened in Room 871 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington.

CBS News has confirmed that the name "George Fox" was used to book a room at the hotel. Fox is described as a campaign donor to Spitzer.

CBS News reports the case began as an IRS investigation into possible money laundering. The IRS brought the FBI into the case several months ago because one of the money streams involved a high-ranking government official and that suggested possible government corruption.

Spitzer's name first surfaced last summer when IRS agents traced one particular money stream to Spitzer, according to law enforcement officials. The IRS watched as money was taken from Spitzer's accounts and through convoluted transfers made it into the account of the escort service. By the time the deposits were made there, Spitzer's name was not attached to the payments.

Even though he is not currently under indictment, the officials say Spitzer's actions do expose him to possible criminal liability stemming from those transactions involving possible violations of tax laws, banking laws and money laundering. It falls under laws relating to what's called "the structuring of payments."

The prostitution ring, identified in court papers as the Emperors Club VIP, arranged connections between wealthy men and more than 50 prostitutes in New York, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Miami, London and Paris, prosecutors said. Four people allegedly connected to the high-end ring were arrested last week.

The club's Web site displays photographs of scantily clad women with their faces hidden. It also shows hourly rates depending on whether the prostitutes were rated with one diamond, the lowest ranking, or seven diamonds, the highest. The most highly ranked prostitutes cost $5,500 an hour, prosecutors said.

"Spitzer is the latest in a long line of politicians caught up in scandal but for a man who made his reputation as a crime-busting attorney general and ethics crusader, allegations such as these are even more damaging for Spitzer," said CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs.

The scandal was first reported on The New York Times' Web site. (Read the report.)

Spitzer spoke hours later. Stunned lawmakers gathered around televisions at the state Capitol in Albany to watch, and a media mob gathered outside the office of Lt. Gov. David Paterson, who would become governor if Spitzer was to resign. It took opponents only minutes to call for his resignation.

"Today's news that Eliot Spitzer was likely involved with a prostitution ring and his refusal to deny it leads to one inescapable conclusion: He has disgraced his office and the entire state of New York," said Assembly Republican leader James Tedisco. "He should resign his office immediately."

Spitzer, 48, built his political reputation on rooting out corruption, including several headline-making battles with Wall Street while serving as attorney general. He stormed into the governor's office in 2006 with a historic share of the vote, vowing to continue his no-nonsense approach to fixing one of the nation's worst governments.

Time magazine had named him "Crusader of the Year" when he was attorney general and the tabloids proclaimed him "Eliot Ness."

But his term as governor has been marred by problems, including an unpopular plan to grant driver's licenses to illegal immigrants and a plot by his aides to smear Spitzer's main Republican nemesis.

Spitzer had been expected to testify to the state Public Integrity Commission he had created to answer for his role in the scandal, in which his aides were accused of misusing state police to compile travel records to embarrass Senate Republican leader Joseph Bruno.

Spitzer had served two terms as attorney general where he pursued criminal and civil cases and cracked down on misconduct and conflicts of interests on Wall Street and in corporate America. He had previously been a prosecutor in the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, handling organized crime and white-collar crime cases.

His cases as state attorney general included a few criminal prosecutions of prostitution rings and into tourism involving prostitutes.

In 2004, he was part of an investigation of an escort service in New York City that resulted in the arrest of 18 people on charges of promoting prostitution and related charges.

[hillaryin08]

I wonder if Bill Clinton is involved?

[DCropp]

Another Hillary supporter involved in mistreating women. Let me guess, once again Hillary won''t give back the money he has contributed.

[jjarden]

These guys are just Unbelievable...Why don%u2019t they just make Prostitution legal throughout the country, like in Nevada, and in Europe, so that these public boondoggles don%u2019t take place. It''s reallyt quite puritanical and silly. And the REASON why there is "Human Trafficing" in $ex workers living under SLAVE conditions is BECAUSE it is ILLEGAL and a BLACK MARKET Business. STOP it and Wake up NOW...Make the Business Legitimate and Government Regulated with regular medical Screenings and Taxation. It is a Victimless Crime. We go to get our haircut and pay the hair stylist...we go to get our teeth cleaned and pay the Dental Hygienist...there is Absolutely NO reason why we shouldn;t be able to get our rocks off and pay the $ex Worker.

[smashwl7]

Hillary%u2019s judgment should once again be called into question!

1st: It was staying with Bill for political gain!

2nd: The war in Iraq vote!

3rd: Agreeing to sign up for the rules that were stated by the DNC in respect to Florida and Mich.

4th: Destroying the Democratic Party for her win at all cost policy.

5th: Slashing and Bashing Obama and then wanting him to be her running mate.

And this is who you want as President, come on women of America look at who you are supporting. It is her judgment that needs be the #1 issue of this campaign. She has poor judgment that is the bottom line issue for all of us to examine

[mortok99]

Was it female?

[rushlimpdrug]

Hey Gov.!
Hook me up!

[rohink-2009]

Why is it when a Democrat is involved in something shady his party affiliation is never mentioned, but, when he is a Republican they always list his or hers? Now tell me the main stream media isn''t biased.

[davidy007]

Wow, what a shocker...A high state government official involved in somethiong immoral...

[davidy007]

Look at that mug! No wonder he had to buy it....You could show movies on that forehead.

[passerby2]

Why is it when a Democrat is involved in something shady his party affiliation is never mentioned, but, when he is a Republican they always list his or hers? Now tell me the main stream media isn''''t biased.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by rohink at 02:42 PM : Mar 10, 2008

because he''s a mole sent in by carl rove to discredit the democrats

[mortok99]

Was it human?

[cyberus-2009]

-----
Why is it when a Democrat is involved in something shady his party affiliation is never mentioned, but, when he is a Republican they always list his or hers? Now tell me the main stream media isn''''t biased.

Posted by rohink at 02:42 PM : Mar 10, 2008
-----

Maybe because the Republicans are the ones always condemning such things because of their high moral standards? Right before they get caught doing it usually.

[obamagrls-bf]

what better you can expect in NY when the senater is Billary---

I dont understand why people still trust Bill clinton and his camp.

[nolalou]

This is surprising only because Spitzer was NY Attorney General before running for Governor, and was known as an anti-corruption reformer, having successfully prosecuted several high profile cases, including busting a major NY Prostitution ring! Oh well, at least he wasn''t toe-tapping in airport men''s rooms!

[lily1972]

what does this have to do with Hillary? you idiots!!

[liberalme]

These guys are just Unbelievable...Why don%u2019t they just make Prostitution legal throughout the country, like in Nevada, and in Europe, so that these public boondoggles don%u2019t take place. It''''s reallyt quite puritanical and silly. And the REASON why there is "Human Trafficing" in $ex workers living under SLAVE conditions is BECAUSE it is ILLEGAL and a BLACK MARKET Business. STOP it and Wake up NOW...Make the Business Legitimate and Government Regulated with regular medical Screenings and Taxation. It is a Victimless Crime. We go to get our haircut and pay the hair stylist...we go to get our teeth cleaned and pay the Dental Hygienist...there is Absolutely NO reason why we shouldn;t be able to get our rocks off and pay the $ex Worker.
Posted by jjarden at 02:38 PM

I think we can conclude there''s a lot of "political prostitution" in this country!

Seemingly, our politicians will make money whatever way they can without concience!
Our government and politicians live by a different set of laws.
We need to get the crime and greed out of politics--this comes by voting them out--congress in November, governors and mayors whenever they are up for election.

Their brains obviously aren''t where they need to be to run our states and our country!

[mudrose-2009]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! HEY JOE, ARE YOU ENJOYING THIS. I AM. HAHAHAHAHAHa!

[pjh822]

These guys are just Unbelievable...Why don%u2019t they just make Prostitution legal throughout the country, like in Nevada, and in Europe, so that these public boondoggles don%u2019t take place. It''''s reallyt quite puritanical and silly. And the REASON why there is "Human Trafficing" in $ex workers living under SLAVE conditions is BECAUSE it is ILLEGAL and a BLACK MARKET Business. STOP it and Wake up NOW...Make the Business Legitimate and Government Regulated with regular medical Screenings and Taxation. It is a Victimless Crime. We go to get our haircut and pay the hair stylist...we go to get our teeth cleaned and pay the Dental Hygienist...there is Absolutely NO reason why we shouldn;t be able to get our rocks off and pay the $ex Worker.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by jjarden at 02:38 PM : Mar 10, 2008

The conservative puritan element is too powerful in this country. There''s as much chance of that happening as there is of Fred Goldman and OJ Simpson becoming friends someday.

[pvperson]

Isn''t it amazing, 4 out of the first two pages of comments try and tie the Clintons to the story. Talk about being fixated.

[obamagrls-bf]

lily1972 - it matters becoz he was inspired by Bill Clinton who dare to use WH for prost .. and Hillary is wife and broker to him... so why shod we trust Billary

[neoconslayer]

His career might be over, however, all of the self-righteous wing-nuts out there should consider this: Did Eliot Spitzer become governor of NY based in part on his rabid condemnation of prostitutes and those who buy them?
That is the fundamental difference between the Republicans and the Democrats.
Republican Idaho Senator Larry Craig was virulently anti-gay, as was the boy toucher from Florida.
While i have nothing to say in the governor''s defense, this is not "JUST LIKE THE GOP" and it is not "PROOF OF MEDIA BIAS".
Sorry to disappoint the wing-nuts...

[obamagrls-bf]

Behind every *** scandal in america Bill Clinton and Hill clinton involved...

They inspired all political leaders to do the same .. I think Bill Clinton should be punished 1st before NY gov.

[singingrick]

The New York governor got himself involved with congress?

Posted by gunownerdan at 02:56 PM : Mar 10, 2008


Now that''s funny!

[pvperson]

You Hillary haters remind me of my brother who lives in Texas. On a visit he once told me about where he lived. Has a great school, only a couple of black kids go there. Great neigborhood, no black families. Hardly ever see black people on the street unless you drive into Houston. And so on and so on. I asked him why he was so preoccupied about black people and he said (surprised) that he wasn''t, why some of his best friends were black.

[rushlimpdrug]

Was Carl Rove involved? How about Vitters?

What a big game this is.

As if this was such a well kept secret.

[jjarden]

He''s FINE...Don;t feel bad for this guy...he''ll write a book or two...he''ll go on Oprah...then he''ll go on the Lecture Circuit...then he''ll become a TV news Analyst, and then He''ll get his own Talk Radio Show. This SOCIETY is SICK!!!!!!!! When are "Regular & Decent People...Us "COMMONERS" going to take this place BACK away from the ELITE???

[pjh822]

"N.Y. Gov. Linked To Prostitution Ring"

Did someone catch him hanging out with some senators?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by gunownerdan at 02:59 PM : Mar 10, 2008

So to speak, gunownerdan, so to speak LOL

[hillaryin08]

No wonder this guy wanted to give drivers licence to Illegals. They were probably part of his business. Typical Liberal Hipocrite.

[searcher911]

Amazing... I had to read almost the whole article to figure out that he ran against a Republican. So he must be a Democrat, I guess. The liberal news ALWAYS mentions the party (R) when they find out some dirt on a Republican. Guess that we can just assume that all politicians in legal, moral, or other trouble are Democrats unless otherwise noted...

[jetlizhan]

holy cow - the world''s going to he11 in a handbasket.

[obamagrls-bf]

This news catch file all over the world and most put Bill Clinton responsible...it''s a fair argument , if USA president can bring a P..te to HW (monica) why can''t NY gov.

Shouldn''t we vote a honest and truly inspiring leader like OBAMA instead ***-offender couples (Clinton)

[rushlimpdrug]

Behind every *** scandal in america Bill Clinton and Hill clinton involved...
They inspired all political leaders to do the same .. I think Bill Clinton should be punished 1st before NY gov.
Posted by OBAMAGRLS-BF at 02:59 PM

Really?
I do hope you''re kidding, or drunk.

[rohink-2009]

Pvperson, you must not post on CBS that often. Quite a few people are fixated on these posts. They''re fixated on Republicans, Christians, President Bush etc.

[jimfinster]

so the screw turns ....

[rushlimpdrug]

Where is Superman?

[obamagrls-bf]

EVERYONE PLS RESPOND
--------------------

Shouldn''t Bill Clinton be put behind the BAR for having Se..x in WH..

No one is above the law ...I wish G.Bush wud do this noble job before he quits WH

[timdgrim]

Well, Well...more corrupt politicians...it''s really not news anymore, just commonplace. Most of these guys were all lawyers once you know...Shakespeare said "Kill all the lawyers and kill them tonight."
Et Tu Elliot......

[oleander8]

What''s the matter with men in positions of power? Why must they always obey the whims of their ''willies'' - throw them all out!

[blazercoach1]

dmcar, I had the same observation. How come there is not a mention of Spitzer being a Democrat??

[rohink-2009]

Well at least it''''s hetero...unlike GOP posterboy Larry Craig ;)

Posted by jh6379

You sound bigoted. You don''t have anything against homosexuals do you?

[rushlimpdrug]

dmcar, I had the same observation. How come there is not a mention of Spitzer being a Democrat??
Posted by blazercoach1 at 03:10 PM

Oh great, thanks a lot guys, now everyone will know because of you two.

[bm6005]

How come there is not a mention of Spitzer being a Democrat??
Posted by blazercoach1

Who cares, partisan? He''s a politician. String him up by his cajones! Party does not matter. The pols want you to think it does but it doesn''t!!!

[baghdadshere]

THE NEW YORK TIMES deserve no credit. This newspaper is a fa-left piece of shiite far-left. Everything it does is to help the Demoncraters Party.

[pjh822]

One of the news networks said he won by a 69% majority when he ran for governor. Oh my, the irony LOL

[watcher269-2009]

WOW - there is no mention of this BUT - Spitzer MUST BE A DEOMOCRAT - how you ask?

BECAUSE HE''S INVOLVED WITH WOMEN! Wow - a Republican talking point. Governor involved with prostitutes!

A Republican Governor would have been involved with MEN!

That''s the way it works with Republican elected officials! They Want A Few GOOD Men!

[jsilver2th]

Oh gee Hillary lost a Superdelegate

[zootallures2]

Well at least it''''s hetero...unlike GOP posterboy Larry Craig ;)

Posted by jh6379 at 03:07 PM : Mar 10, 2008

Soon they can use it as part of their campains.

I reckon this is inflict some damage on his chances at being Hillary''s attorney general...

[far_point200]

Hmmm... Spitzer being a Democrat....

If he had only *** with his wife of an opposite ***... now that would have truly been news!

[actornaught]

Nothing happened to Bill Clinton...
Posted by Benst1 at 03:19 PM : Mar 10, 2008

You forgot about the whole Impeachment thing, as well as endless relentless legal hounding that netted nothing but one lie about a bloejob.

By the same strategy, w would''ve had eliminate almost half his vacations for hearings. Yeah, double standard...