Judge: Release Spitzer Sex Wiretap Info

Orders Government To Make Public Documents Detailing Calls By Prostitution Ring Linked To Former N.Y. Governor

(AP)  The government must release sealed documents that could reveal new details about the origins and scope of the prostitution investigation that brought down former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, a judge ordered Thursday.

U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff wrote in federal court in Manhattan that the documents, which were FBI applications for wiretaps, should be unsealed "given the strong and obvious public interest in disclosure." He ordered them released by Tuesday.

Prosecutors, who can appeal the decision, had no immediate comment.

The New York Times sued late last year to get access to the documents, which name the 67 people besides Spitzer who were clients of Emperor's Club VIP, a high-end prostitute service. The Times has agreed to allow the government to withhold the names of the customers in the documents.

None of those customers except Spitzer has ever been identified and no client was ever charged. Four people who operated the ring were charged with prostitution and money laundering and have pleaded guilty.

The government has voluntarily unsealed a search warrant application for Emperor's e-mail account, but it withheld applications for wiretaps on cell phones, including one used by a woman who booked appointments with prostitutes.

Prosecutors had argued the release of the documents would violate the privacy of callers and reveal sensitive investigative techniques.

But Rakoff found that "any threats to privacy are eliminated by the redactions (of names) previously agreed to" by prosecutors and the Times.

Spitzer resigned last year after details were revealed of a tryst with one of the ring's prostitutes in a Washington hotel. Investigators had been looking into the governor's affairs after noticing unusual activity — later shown to be payments to prostitutes — in his bank accounts.

[indptex]

........that smells fishy.

Posted by tincup356 at 06:25 PM : Feb 19, 2009

Bet that's not all that smells fishy!

[tincup356]

Prosecutors had argued the release of the documents would violate the privacy of callers and reveal sensitive investigative techniques. .............................If these clients had been everyday citizens,,,,,that list would be very public,,,,,,,so if that list contains big names that would be embarrassed,,,,so be it release the names,,,,,,,it would be a lesson to dominate public figures to make examples of them.Being rich should not change how justice works,,,,,,,Also ....if enforcement wasn't doing anything illegal ...why hide investigative facts?,,,,that smells fishy.

[vranger]

"After all if prostitution is legalized, some women who are active NOW members will have an even more difficult time finding a man willing to marry them"

I think you overestimate the current marital prospects of "active NOW members".

[culturechang]

I am sick of hearing that its all men's fault. These women were equally and willfully engaged in an illegal activity. The solution is that it should not be illegal.

[culturechang]

They might even have to release a few violent sexual predators to make room for these railroaded escort service operators. That sounds about like the common sense they will use.

[culturechang]

Well, they let both Ashley and Spitzer go. This must be the persecution trial for the escort service operators. And this will likely carry a 10+ year federal prison sentence.

Dont we have higher priorities. These leftover Bush moral zealots in the US attorney's need to be out to get the priorities straight.

The priorities of some folks just amaze me....
Millions of folks losing jobs...
Folks losing homes right and left...
Trillions of dollars in debt....
Entire states going broke.....
Terrorism, beheadings, suicide bombers....
Entire COUNTRIES going broke thanks to crooked bankers.....
and on and on....
But WHAT gets 'em whupped up into a rabid froth?
Some poor slob gettin' laid will do it every time...
They call it morality....
good gawd...

[credibility2]

This isn't fair. The release of the names of the 67 customers should also be revealed. Without the so-called "Johns" perhaps there wouldn't be this type of industry. Merely punishing the madam or her "ladies" and occasionally humiliating a high-profile customer like Spitzer isn't fair or objective. I hope in time the madam reveals her little black book of names and reveals and exposes all of the customers who caused her to be held accountable. In a recent interview about her book, she does mention that many of the customers are politicians and Wall St. types. Please, madam, make these names known. Let these men squirm, as they should. That's the lease any of them deserve for being complicit to and for deliberately committing a crime.