The Gift That Keeps On Giving

Ladies and Gentlemen: Eliot Spitzer stars in "There He Ho's Again". You can't make up stuff like this...

Hooker, Line and Spitzer

AP News Alert:

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) A top state official says New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer will resign effective Monday after being linked to a prostitution ring.

Apparently, the Luv Guv (and Hillary superdelegate; also, Marc Dann's hero) got his deal...

From the AP story:

Spitzer is scheduled to announce his resignation at 11:30 a.m., according to a second top Spitzer staffer. The officials spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the announcement had not yet been made.

Headline Help: Anon from KY

UPDATE: AP News Alert:

NEW YORK (AP) New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer has resigned.

And for the record, David Vitter and Larry Craig ought to go too. Happy now, Modern Esquire? I've said it. Again... :)

This blog does not appreciate corruption no matter what the party affiliation is and I am more than a little shocked that there are still liberals out there who haven't figured that one out yet... See: Rogers, Kay for further illustration of what I am talking about...

Corruption = BAD

...and there is NO excuse for it at all. And I'd really like to see where the local liberal intelligentsia blogged their outrage against Rep. William "Cold Cash" Jefferson before they come over here and waste my time talking about Sen. Vitter...

Spitzer's Impact: "Day One, Everything Changes" or Something

A few more details emerge from this story courtesy of the AP:

The first-term Democrat was caught on a federal wiretap arranging to meet a prostitute from a call-girl business, according to a law enforcement official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the investigation is still going on.

Spitzer allegedly paid for the call girl to take a train from New York to Washington — a move that opened the transaction up to federal prosecution because she crossed state lines.

The governor has not been charged, and prosecutors would not comment on the case Monday. A spokesman for Spitzer said the governor has retained a large Manhattan law firm.
...
But he apparently became embroiled last year in a financial probe by the Internal Revenue Service into a high-end prostitution ring. The investigation into the Emperors Club VIP gathered more than 5,000 telephone calls and text messages, and more than 6,000 e-mails, along with bank records, travel and hotel records and surveillance.

It was unclear whether Spitzer was a target from the start or whether agents came across his name by accident while amassing evidence.

In an affidavit filed in Manhattan federal court last week, Spitzer appeared as "Client 9," according to the law enforcement official. Client 9 personally made several cell phone calls to Emperors Club VIP to arrange a Feb. 13 tryst at a Washington hotel, the official said.

Client 9 wanted a high-priced prostitute named Kristen to come to Washington on a 5:39 p.m. train from Manhattan. The door to the hotel room would be left ajar. Train tickets, cab fare, room service, and the minibar were all on him.

"Yup, same as in the past. No question about it," the caller told Kristen's boss, when asked if he would make his payment to the same business as usual, a federal affidavit said. The client paid $4,300 to Kristen, touted by the escort service as a "petite, pretty brunette," according to court papers.

Would Spitzer's fall from grace and resignation in disgrace be beneficial to the state of New York? Maybe...

There was no word on Spitzer's plans, but Assembly Republican leader James Tedisco said Tuesday he received a call Monday from Lt. Governor David Paterson, who would assume the governor's office if Spitzer resigned.

Tedisco said Paterson raised the possibility of such a scenario by asking if Tedisco, who has been at odds with Spitzer, would be willing to start fresh with him.

"He called me to ask if we would give him the benefit of the doubt, and go forward," Tedisco said. "I told him we would."

Republicans have wasted no time calling for Spitzer to resign:

At a Manhattan news conference, a glassy-eyed Spitzer, his shellshocked wife Silda at his side, apologized to his family and the people of New York.

"I have acted in a way that violates my obligations to my family and violates my — or any — sense of right and wrong," he said. "I apologize to the public, whom I promised better."

He did not say what he was apologizing for and ignored reporters' shouted questions about whether he would resign — 14 months after he boldly proclaimed at the start of his term, "Day One, Everything Changes."

Spitzer, the 48-year-old father of three teenage girls, retreated from his Manhattan offices to his Upper East Side home. Republicans immediately called for him to quit.

"He has to step down. No one will stand with him," said Rep. Peter King, a Republican from Long Island. "I never try to take advantage or gloat over a personal tragedy. However, this is different. This is a guy who is so self-righteous, and so unforgiving."

Of course, Peter King couldn't be found with a search warrant in the Sen. David Vitter affair... Anyway...

What impact, if any, does this whole debacle have on the Democratic nomination for President? Well, you should know that Spitzer is a superdelegate for Hillary Clinton.

UPDATE: Forgot to add the Bubba Moment...

The Governorfather

CEI Institute Presents (again): The Governorfather...

Marc Dann's Hero Got Busted

No...I did NOT get an AP News Alert about this... Fortunately, several members of the SOB Alliance picked this story up... Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the New York Times:

Gov. Eliot Spitzer has been caught on a federal wiretap arranging to meet with a high-priced prostitute at a Washington hotel last month, according to a person briefed on the federal investigation.

The wiretap recording, made during an investigation of a prostitution ring called Emperors Club VIP, captured a man identified as Client 9 on a telephone call confirming plans to have a woman travel from New York to Washington, where he had reserved a room. The person briefed on the case identified Mr. Spitzer as Client 9.

The governor learned that he had been implicated in the prostitution probe when a federal official contacted his staff last Friday, according to the person briefed on the case.

The governor informed his top aides Sunday night and this morning of his involvement. He canceled his public events today and scheduled an announcement for this afternoon after inquiries from the Times.

Is this behavior that Marc Dann will emulate? Only time will tell; so stay tuned, sports fans!

3:40 PM UPDATE: NOW I get an AP News Alert:

NEW YORK (AP) Gov. Eliot Spitzer apologizes to his family and the public but does not elaborate on reported links to prostitution ring.

Good times...

I think this calls for a Bubba Moment:



UPDATE 2: From the AP story:

With his wife at his side, Spitzer told reporters that he "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."

How long until we hear cries of "It was just sex."???

But here's something I hadn't heard about:

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.

How long until Marc Dann gets the idea...

UPDATE 3: BizzyBlog notes the possibility of resignation... Meanwhile King and Justin jump on board...