Spitzer Spent Up To $80,000 On Call Girls

Investigators Say Eliot Spitzer Was A Repeat Customer Who Spent Tens Of Thousands Of Dollars

(CBS/AP)  Investigators say Eliot Spitzer was clearly a repeat customer who spent tens of thousands of dollars - perhaps as much as $80,000 - with the high-priced prostitution service over an extended period of time.

Spitzer and his family, meanwhile, remained secluded in their Fifth Avenue apartment Tuesday while Republicans began talking impeachment, and few if any fellow Democrats came forward to defend him.

A death watch of sorts began at the state Capitol, where whispers of "What have you heard?" echoed through nearly every hallway of the ornate, 109-year-old building.

And Spitzer announced Wednesday that he is resigning, completing a spectacular fall from power for a politician whose once-promising career imploded amid allegations that he paid thousands of dollars for high-end prostitutes.

"I look at my time as governor with a sense of what might have been," Spitzer said, with his expressionless wife Silda standing at his side. "There is much more to be done, and I cannot allow my private failings to disrupt the people's work."

On Monday, when the scandal broke, prosecutors said in court papers that the Democratic governor had been caught on a wiretap spending $4,300 with the Emperors Club VIP call-girl service, with some of the money going toward a night with a prostitute named Kristen, and the rest as credit toward future trysts. The papers also suggested that Spitzer had done this before.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a law enforcement official said Tuesday that Spitzer, in fact, had spent tens of thousands of dollars with the Emperors Club. Another official said the amount could be as high as $80,000. But it was not clear over what period of time that was spent.

Still another law enforcement official said investigators found that during the tryst with Kristen on the night before Valentine's Day, Spitzer used two rooms at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington - one for himself, the other for the prostitute. Sometime around 10 p.m., Spitzer sneaked away from his security detail and made his way to the room where she was waiting, the official said.

CBS News has learned the investigation into Spitzer was sparked last summer by a Suspicious Activity Report filed by a financial institution. (Read more on the investigation.)

Insiders on Tuesday said the governor was still trying to decide how to proceed. Options included quitting immediately, or waiting to use resignation as a bargaining chip with federal prosecutors to avoid indictment.

Democrats privately floated another option, telling The Associated Press that Spitzer was considering what was almost unthinkable immediately after Monday's bombshell apology: hanging on.

"If the public is fine, he'll stay," said a Democrat who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject.

Still, Spitzer's many enemies from Albany and Wall Street were emboldened, and some of his friends went from shock to outrage.

"Particularly because of the reform platform on which he was elected governor, his ability to govern the state of New York and execute his duties as governor have been irreparably damaged," said Citizens Union, a good-government group that supported the crusading attorney general for governor in 2006 and provided critical support in his effort to reform Albany. "It is our strong belief that it is now impossible for him to fulfill his responsibilities as governor. Accordingly, Citizens Union urges him to resign as governor."

[michellem99-2009]

That is alot of money. He blew it. Top it off he is a family man, A disgrace. I wish the legally blind new gov the best as he will do right. I heard him give a talk on the news and hope The people will not be hurt by that out going gov. Be sure to meet his needs by large print. He needs it.

[keithle1]

Boy should have earned a few "freebies" after spending that kind of serious dough?

[kwyk1]

why are we letting him plea bargain.
he knows the law , he works there!!!!
as a person who was in the government he should get no special treatment..........

If this is are Gov. at work , this is not good for our nation.

[ioweign]

A man who f_ornicate_s in the pantry will get his azz in jam...

Confucius

[vmcneal2]

Spitzer..high class call girl...Craig...public toilet. ***, the Republicans can''t seem to do anything right.

[jghutto]

Proverbs says "A fool digs a pit and falls in it."

[subscriber2-2009]

UPDATE #2: Linguistic experts have been consulted and the consensus is that the best definition of "Freudenschade" is the premature exhilaration at the anticipated suffering of others.

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

Lets not be too swift with this so called freudenschade. now that would be like those
damned f.u.c.k.i.n.g. germans .

a little people, greedy, barbarous and cruel that we killed ever so nicely in WWII.

[rational_1]

He should have gone the Hugh Grant route. Probably still would have been caught but he''d be out only $25 instead of $80G.

I really pity his wife - poor woman does not deserve to be dragged through all this so publicly.

[subscriber2-2009]

too bad, he cant get a refund on his ''credit''...

[guysdigdirt]

Governor Spitzer was in the midst of boosting the economy -he''''s a true patriot.
Posted by kenbomc

That is a good one, very funny.

[guysdigdirt]

Spitzer had affairs with female prostitutes. Foley was after teenage boys, Craig was soliciting for attention in a men''''s bathroom stall. It is the nature of their activities, not their affiliation, that determines their coverage.
Posted by Displeased

So you are admitting that ****$exual relations are different than straight relations right, then how come on the other board you were so adamant that both get to marry?

[missglo]

Spitzer put his career and family on the line, by his own lust. $80,000 worth,of N.Y tax money. And the shame he put on his wife and children. Sad

[fibonacci_]

I think guys just need a little something a little too much. This guy had a wife - can''t believe what some guys will do to get their pants off and in action.

[closethippy1]

Prostitution might be illegal but escort services are not.Posted by closethippy1

Man you people never give up! If he''''d have murdered someone you''''d find him not guilty too. It''''s pathetic. If he were republican he would have been hung by now, instead, this news will be buried and forgotten in a week simply b/c he is a dem.
Posted by katg21 at 02:07 PM : Mar 12, 2008

Well, hey, I''m just doing a Rush Limbaugh on all of you rightwing folks who are going nuts over Spitzer just because for the first time in years a Republican is not being accused of breach of ethics.
How do you like me now, eh?

[displeased]

If he were republican he would have been hung by now, instead, this news will be buried and forgotten in a week simply b/c he is a dem.
Posted by katg21

Spitzer had affairs with female prostitutes. Foley was after teenage boys, Craig was soliciting for attention in a men''s bathroom stall. It is the nature of their activities, not their affiliation, that determines their coverage.

[simonsez40]

Oh yeah and some wives stop having *** and gain weight when they get married which is just plain unattractive.
----------------------------------------------------

Posted by anonbene

And men age gracefully with the balding, pot belly and nose hairs growing profusely - maybe she told him to shove it and got her a younger man a LONG TIME AGO!

Moron.

[katg21]

Prostitution might be illegal but escort services are not.Posted by closethippy1

Man you people never give up! If he''d have murdered someone you''d find him not guilty too. It''s pathetic. If he were republican he would have been hung by now, instead, this news will be buried and forgotten in a week simply b/c he is a dem.

[b-easy63]

Prostitution might be illegal but escort services are not.
He used the services of an escort company, he did not pick up a prostitute from the streets.
Therefore, Governor Spitzer didn''''t brake any laws and should remain in office.
Also keep in mind that he used his own money.
Thank you.


Posted by closethippy1 at 11:40 AM : Mar 12, 2008

WRONG. Escort services which actually procure women to have sexxx for money have a few other names: wh.orehouses, bordellos, madam''s establishments and all are ILLEGAL. True escort services only provide company to public outings and no sexxx for money can be involved.

Anyone in vice and most normal people know that the term "escort service" is a euphemism for a wh.ore house. You have been a hippy perhaps--just a smidge too long.

[kenbomc]

Governor Spitzer was in the midst of boosting the economy -he''s a true patriot.

[b-easy63]

I look at my time as governor with a sense of what might have been," Spitzer said, with his expressionless wife Silda standing at his side. "There is much more to be done, and I cannot allow my private failings to disrupt the people''s work."


Yeah. "the people''s work, should be to bring a law suit as well as a criminal case against you for soliciting prostitutes, embezzling funds, and using public monies during the commission of a crime. We''re guessing about 80K in restitution and about 10 years in the arms of a new prison Bubba and all the gigs Bubba can get you for a pack of cigarettes--ought to cover it.