It's Official: N.Y. Gov. Calls It Quits

Eliot Spitzer Apologizes For Sex Scandal And Resigns After Being Linked To Prostitution Ring

(CBS/AP)  Gov. Eliot Spitzer resigned in disgrace Wednesday after getting caught in a prostitution scandal that shattered his corruption-fighting, straight-arrow image, saying: "I cannot allow my private failings to disrupt the people's work."

Spitzer made the announcement without having finalized a plea deal with federal prosecutors, though a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation said he is believed to still be negotiating one. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case.

"Over the course of my public life, I've insisted, I think correctly, that people regardless of their position or power take responsibility for their conduct. I can and will ask no less of myself," Spitzer said at a Manhattan news conference with his wife, Silda, at his side. He left without answering questions.

Spitzer will be replaced, effective Monday, by Lt. Gov. David Paterson, who becomes New York's first black governor. He also will be the state's first legally blind governor and its first disabled governor since Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Paterson said in a statement that he was saddened, but would move forward. "It is now time for Albany to get back to work as the people of this state expect from us," he said.

Spitzer's dramatic fall began Monday when allegations surfaced that the 48-year-old father of three was the man identified in court papers as "Client-9," who spent thousands of dollars on a call girl named Kristen at a swanky Washington hotel on the night before Valentine's Day. Later details leaked from investigators alleged he was a repeat customer who spent as much as $80,000 with the high-priced prostitution service over an extended period of time.

Spitzer was more composed than he was earlier in the week, when he apologized for an undisclosed personal failing and looked pale, drawn and glassy-eyed. His wife took deep breaths as each of Spitzer's words was accompanied by a rush of camera clicks. She glanced in his direction, but they did not touch.

"I look at my time as governor with a sense of what might have been," Spitzer said.

Spitzer's resignation came after two days of furious calls for him to step down. Republican leaders had threatened to file impeachment papers if he didn't step aside by the end of Wednesday.

The case started when banks noticed frequent cash transfers from several accounts and filed suspicious activity reports with the Internal Revenue Service, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The accounts were traced back to Spitzer, leading public corruption investigators to open an inquiry. (Read more on the investigation.)

FBI agents recorded phone calls of Spitzer arranging a tryst and they put him under surveillance at least twice - on Jan. 26 and Feb. 13 - to confirm that a prostitute joined him at the Mayflower Hotel, according to a senior law enforcement official with knowledge of the case. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the investigation.

The surveillance was necessary as part of the investigation into whether Spitzer violated the Mann Act, which makes transportation of someone across a state line for prostitution a federal crime, the official said. Authorities in Washington now are weighing whether to prosecute Spitzer for soliciting and paying for sex - a felony in the District of Columbia, the official said.

Whether U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Taylor, who prosecutes federal and local laws in the District of Columbia, will bring charges against Spitzer likely depends on the plea deal the governor is negotiating with the government in New York, two senior law enforcement officials said.

In a statement issued after Spitzer's resignation, U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia said there was no deal with the fallen governor: "There is no agreement between this office and Governor Eliot Spitzer, relating to his resignation or any other matter."

Spitzer, a first-term Democrat, built his political reputation on rooting out government corruption, and made a name for himself as attorney general as crusader against shady practices and overly generous compensation. He also cracked down on prostitution.

His hard-charging ways earned him the nickname "Sheriff of Wall Street." Time magazine named him "Crusader of the Year," and the tabloids proclaimed him "Eliot Ness."

As news of his resignation spread on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, some traders applauded. One trader said some firms even cracked champagne open in celebration - a ritual usually saved for if the Dow Jones industrials hit a milestone.

The square-jawed graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law was sometimes mentioned as a potential candidate for president. He rode into the governor's office with a historic margin of victory on Jan. 1, 2007, vowing to stamp out corruption in New York government in the same way that he took on Wall Street executives with a vengeance while state attorney general.

His term as governor has been fraught with problems, including an unpopular plan to grant driver's licenses to illegal immigrants and a plot by his aides to smear his main Republican nemesis. The prostitution scandal, some said, was too much to overcome.

White House press secretary Dana Perino responded to Spitzer's resignation by repeating that President Bush views it as a "sad situation" and has Spitzer and his family "in his thoughts and prayers."

Spitzer is the first New York governor to leave office in scandal since William Sulzer, who was impeached and removed in 1913 over campaign records.

Barely known outside of his Harlem political base, Paterson, the 53-year-old incoming governor, has been in New York government since his election to the state Senate in 1985. He led the Democratic caucus in the Senate before running with Spitzer.

Though legally blind, Paterson has enough sight in his right eye to walk unaided, recognize people at conversational distance and even read if text is placed close to his face. While Spitzer is renowned for his abrasive style, Paterson has built a reputation as a conciliator.

At a morning news conference, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, Spitzer's chief rival, said he was moving on with the business of the state. Lawmakers were set to vote on budget bills Wednesday afternoon.

"It's stunningly tragic. Everybody is piling on, talking about what Eliot Spitzer did wrong. One of the things he did right was to ask David Paterson to be his lieutenant governor," said U.S. Rep. Steve Israel, D-N.Y.

[infidel_us]

Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D-NY)

Since the LAMEstream media refuses to specify his party affiliation, (like you KNOW they would if he were a republican), I have taken up the challenge.

[mudrose-2009]

Experts say "Client 9" could face the following charges:

* Money laundering for trying to conceal the source and recipient of financial transactions.
* Tax evasion, if he was a knowing party to an all-cash business that wasn''t filing taxes.
* Violation of the Mann Act for paying for the trip from New York to D.C. by the call girl known as "Kristen."
* Misuse of state resources, if he used his state-issued credit card for hotels or meals with prostitutes as well as if he was being protected by State Troopers during his dalliances.
* And finally, soliciting prostitution.

There''s also the question of whether Spitzer used campaign funds for these trysts, which opens up a whole other litany of charges from fraud to federal election violations.

Court documents and published reports indicate perhaps as much as $80,000 were transferred from Spitzer''s account to a trio of dummy companies that were fronts for the escort service.

North Fork Bank reportedly grew suspicious when the governor asked that his name be taken off the latest transactions.

Just to name a few from the Screwball who is taking responsbility for his actions; who has put the State of New York at risk by subjecting himself to possible blackmail and for possibly using taxpayer dollars to dip his wick in some b/itche''s bottomless pit. Good Job Spritzer.

[vmcneal2]

The difference between Democratic *** scandals and Republican *** scaldals is that Democratic men have *** with women. Lets compare Spitzer with Larry Craig. Spitzer.. high class call girl. Craig.. trying to get or give a BJ in a public toilet. ***, that''s the Republican party for ya, waste our tax dollars on BS, but won''t use their own money to pay for a decent BJ.

[squidly8]

Dont let the door hit you in the a$$ on the way out.

[shanev137]

Anyone who has ever sinned needs to resign from their job.

[louthesz9]

Yeah, and California Gov. Schwarzenegger should resign too for preaching and lecturing to us about global warming while he''s spewing a lot of gas into the atmosphere by traveling extensively in his Gulfstream jet to and from work and to his vacation retreat in Idaho. The guy also owns 10 Hummers. Can''t you believe that?

[brianbwb-2009]

"One trader said some firms even cracked champagne open in celebration - a ritual usually saved for if the Dow Jones industrials hit a milestone."

Ominous, it means that Wall Street will be even more corrupt, because they will have no one watching their dealings.

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by jeffshang

Take your porn spam elsewhere. Consider yourself reported.

[brianbwb-2009]

"Over the course of my public life, I''ve insisted, I think correctly, that people regardless of their position or power take responsibility for their conduct. I can and will ask no less of myself,"

About time we see someone accept responsibility for his actions, now if he accepts the legal sanctions, he will be two up on Bush and his klan, who should be also accepting personal responsibility for the death and destruction caused by their lies.

[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.

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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 every so nicely in WWII.

[tasmhs]

I feel just awful about the downfall of Eliot Spitzer..........NOT. I love it! I think I disliked him more than any public figure in the U.S. He is an arrogant, pious, and sanctimonious SOB, and I am thrilled to see him resign in disgrace. I hope he gets some jail time too. If you looked up the word hypocricy in the dictionary, his picture would be there. And his wife is just plain dumb for sticking with him, just like Hillary, they like the power, status, and money too much to ever actually leave.

[rudy654-2009]

In Israel the hollywood horror films are considered religious programming. Posted by zootallures2 at 08:57 PM

You must be the star attraction!

[subscriber2-2009]

No nookie from the missus ever again. She''''ll wait til the kids graduate from college & then divorce him.

A man''''s *** is a powerful master.


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Posted by Keithle1 at 09:15 PM : Mar 12, 2008
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Probably that hard faced wife of his was not giving him any in the first place, at least for the last 8 months. ... he went for his monthly visit to hookers since the last 8 months. at least that is what THIS investigation has uncovered. He has probably been active in this recreation for more than 8 months. If not, he might have stood and fought for his Gov position. He knows he is guilty of much more than what we currently know, so he bowed out as fast as he could to make it look good.

Take a look at wifey during the press conference today. True it is awful what this situation will do to the family. However, there are two sides of this story. She probably cut him off, his right hand got tired/or he ran out of cream/or the water bill was getting just a little too high with all those long showers he needed for the handjob. He needed someone to make him feel ''loved'' and so he turned to a hooker.

Dont kid yourself, she is as good as actor as him. Study her body language. Sure she once loved him but she bears some of the guilt here.

[subscriber2-2009]

an added yuk factor, the hooker looks like his 17, 15 and 13 year old daughters. all have long dark hair similar face.

can someone tell me, is Youmans a jewish last name? i googled it, seems it is?

hooker changed her last name from Youmans.

SS

[keithle1]

P E N I S!!!!!!!!

THERE! I SAID IT! IS THE WORLD STILL TURNING????????

[keithle1]

No nookie from the missus ever again. She''ll wait til the kids graduate from college & then divorce him.

A man''s *** is a powerful master.

[zootallures2]

In Israel the hollywood horror films are considered religious programming.

[subscriber2-2009]

all you mcsame haters will love this:

about the hooker ::::

go on amiestreet.com

under ''''''''''''''''search'''''''''''''''' type in ashley alexandra dupre

she comes up with one song, reads like it is selling for .54 cents

on the left under ''''''''''''''''fans'''''''''''''''' is wait what is this it is John McCain?????????????????????


please somebody help out , what the hell?

how the hell did his photo get on that ?

[subscriber2-2009]

all you mcsame haters will love this:

about the hooker ::::

go on amiestreet.com

under ''''''''''''''''search'''''''''''''''' type in ashley alexandra dupre

she comes up with one song, reads like it is selling for .54 cents

on the left under ''''''''''''''''fans'''''''''''''''' is wait what is this it is John McCain?????????????????????


please somebody help out , what the hell?

how the hell did his photo get on that ?

[subscriber2-2009]

all you mcsame haters will love this:

about the hooker ::::

go on amiestreet.com

under ''''''''search'''''''' type in ashley alexandra dupre

she comes up with one song, reads like it is selling for .54 cents

on the left under ''''''''fans'''''''' is wait what is this it is John McCain?????????????????????


please somebody help out , what the hell?

how the hell did his photo get on that ?


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