NY Governor Linked to Prostitution Ring

[J-Roc]

NEW YORK - Gov. Eliot Spitzer has told senior advisers that he had been involved in a prostitution ring, The New York Times reported Monday, citing an anonymous top administration official.


Spitzer, who is married with three daughters, was scheduled to make an announcement Monday afternoon. Spitzer officials wouldn't immediately comment on the story.
The Times reported that a person with knowledge of the governor's role believes the governor is identified as a client in court papers. Four people allegedly connected to a high-end prostitution ring called Emperors Club VIP were arrested last week.
The Web site of the Emperors Club VIP displays photographs of scantily clad women with their faces hidden, along with 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.
Prosecutors said the defendants arranged connections between wealthy men and more than 50 prostitutes in New York, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Miami, London and Paris.
The Times reported that the governor's travel records show he was in Washington in mid-February, and that one of the clients arranged to meet with a prostitute on the night of Feb. 13.
The case is being handled by prosecutors in the Public Corruption unit of U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia's office. Garcia spokeswoman Yusill Scribner said the office had no comment.
Spitzer, 48, built his political legacy 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 stint as governor has been marred by several 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.
___
Associated Press Writer Mike Gormley contributed to this report from Albany, N.Y.

[SDG]

NEW YORK - Gov. Eliot Spitzer has told senior advisers that he had been involved in a prostitution ring, The New York Times reported Monday, citing an anonymous top administration official.


Spitzer, who is married with three daughters, was scheduled to make an announcement Monday afternoon. Spitzer officials wouldn't immediately comment on the story.
The Times reported that a person with knowledge of the governor's role believes the governor is identified as a client in court papers. Four people allegedly connected to a high-end prostitution ring called Emperors Club VIP were arrested last week.
The Web site of the Emperors Club VIP displays photographs of scantily clad women with their faces hidden, along with 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.
Prosecutors said the defendants arranged connections between wealthy men and more than 50 prostitutes in New York, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Miami, London and Paris.
The Times reported that the governor's travel records show he was in Washington in mid-February, and that one of the clients arranged to meet with a prostitute on the night of Feb. 13.
The case is being handled by prosecutors in the Public Corruption unit of U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia's office. Garcia spokeswoman Yusill Scribner said the office had no comment.
Spitzer, 48, built his political legacy 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 stint as governor has been marred by several 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.
___
Associated Press Writer Mike Gormley contributed to this report from Albany, N.Y.

He led charges against many people ... during his time as a Prosecutor ... often mercilessly and relentlessly ...

I am often wary of watchdogs.

[DividedThigh]

i think you are wary for good reason dan, many times people use there zeal to cover there own problems, like the apostle paul in acts 9, dt

[J-Roc]

This just in 1 minute ago...some updates to the article:

______________________________________________


NEW YORK - Gov. Eliot Spitzer has apologized to his family and the public, but did not elaborate on a bombshell report that he was involved in a prostitution ring.


http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/N805.yahoo.comSD1509/B2630800.31;abr=!ie4;abr=!ie5;sz=300x250;ord=12051 77119103098?
Spitzer says he "acted in a way that violates my obligations to my family" and says he has to spend time with his family.
Spitzer's wife stood at his side, her hands behind her back and her eyes cast downward, as he made the statement. The New York Times reported earlier in the day that Spitzer told his senior aides he was involved in a prostitution ring.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE.

[DividedThigh]

well he will probably get a pass seeing he is a democrat and all, only the repulbicans get blasted for this normal , yeah right, behavior, dt:spit

[SDG]

I know that when McGreevy, NJ Governor, came out a couple of years ago about a gay relationship he was having .... he had his wife by his side ... and today I noticed Spitzer had his wife ... by his side today during the press conference.

Now, I'm sure these women volunteered to do so ... but am I too old-school in thinking that perhaps these men should face the music on their own ... sorta man up and not bring more shame to their wives?

http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/POLITICS/03/10/spitzer/t1home.spitzer.presser.ap.jpg

[ChristopherHall]

well he will probably get a pass seeing he is a democrat and all, only the repulbicans get blasted for this normal , yeah right, behavior, dt:spit

Everyone knows Democrats are rotten sinners. It's the Republicans that claim to be morally superior.

In all honesty, both parties are full of rotten sinners and neither party is morally superior to the other. Character must be judged on a case by case basis.

I think we aught to pray for this man and his family. They're going to need it.

[J-Roc]

I think we aught to pray for this man and his family.


Yeah, let's pray that he is prosectuted to the fullest!!!

[scotty]

Wow , at least he is taking it like a Republican, fessing up and accepting responsibility.

Democrats usually deny it or try to redefine "sexual relations"


" That depends what the definition of "is" is." --- Pres. Bill Clinton

[SDG]

Wow , at least he is taking it like a Republican, fessing up and accepting responsibility.

Democrats usually deny it or try to redefine "sexual relations"


" That depends what the definition of "is" is." --- Pres. Bill Clinton

This is a question of manning up ... imo .... not party affiliation ...

There have been Democrats who have come clean ....

[dizzyde]

He led charges against many people ... during his time as a Prosecutor ... often mercilessly and relentlessly ...

I am often wary of watchdogs.

I know you were inferring this, but it has been my observation in the church as well. A lot of the time when you see a preacher who is hung up on a particular subject, it eventually comes out that this is an issue that he struggles with himself. Not always, but often.

[SDG]

I know you were inferring this, but it has been my observation in the church as well. A lot of the time when you see a preacher who is hung up on a particular subject, it eventually comes out that this is an issue that he struggles with himself. Not always, but often.

Yep.

[Cindy]

Another sad and pitiful life of sin.

[SDG]

Another sad and pitiful life of sin.

We all suffer because of it ... and none are immune to it's effects.

Sin brings havoc to our lives. But thank God for Jesus Christ ...

I pray Mr. Spitzer can bring the broken pieces to Jesus.

[TRFrance]

I still feel bad for the guy, and his family.

I can't imagine how embarrassing this must be, not just for him, but for his wife and children too.

[Defender]

Everyone knows Democrats are rotten sinners. It's the Republicans that claim to be morally superior.

In all honesty, both parties are full of rotten sinners and neither party is morally superior to the other. Character must be judged on a case by case basis.

I think we aught to pray for this man and his family. They're going to need it.

I beg to differ....there is a HUGE difference between promoting abortion and protecting life. There is a GIGANTIC difference in the stances on homosexuality and gay marriage. These are just two issues where one parties plank is morally superior to the other.

[ChristopherHall]

I beg to differ....there is a HUGE difference between promoting abortion and protecting life. There is a GIGANTIC difference in the stances on homosexuality and gay marriage. These are just two issues where one parties plank is morally superior to the other.

Defender.....

The Republican Party can't do anything about abortion and won't. When it comes down to it the "Pro-Life" position of the Republican Party is largely symbolic and used as a wedge to get our votes. We have had one of the strongest Republican Presidential Administrations in decades, Republicans have held a majority in congress, and 7 out of 9 justices were appointed by Republicans. Guess what, nothing has significantly changed on the abortion front...they're just playing politics with the issue.

Here's another issue about abortion. If they did overturn Roe and place bans on abortion...what would be the penalty? Nobody is going to prosecute a woman for seeking an abortion. And short of maybe loosing their license to practice medicine most wouldn't prosecute a doctor for performing abortion.

I know they argue about getting strict constructionist justices on the SCOTUS, but a Constructionist would interpret the Constitution as our founders did. Guess what...abortion existed in the early years of our republic also. There were periodicals that advertised these "services". Abortion wasn't banned or restricted in most states until the mid to late 1800's and that was only because women were suffering from infection and dangerous side effects from the procedure. Abortion became more prevalent as the procedure became more perfected and sadly there were challenges to the state bans on abortion and the court overthrew statutes banning the procedure stating that the state cannot seize a woman's body and force her to give birth if she desires not to. It was a sad day indeed...but the issue isn't Liberal or Conservative....the issue is women. Some women are so debased they will seek this procedure. Most who procure abortions feel desperately pushed to have this procedure. We do better by using our resources to help women who are in crisis pregnancies. Most abortions are procured by women who live below or near the poverty level. These women need health insurance and initiatives addressing the issues they face. Of course Republicans are dead set against helping women....they argue for a ban on abortion that will never materialize.

To the Democrat's credit, they've been looking at how Belgium, a ProChoice country, has achieved the lowest abortion rate in the world without banning abortion. They have drafted nearly 17 policy initiatives to help reduce the abortion rate significantly as seen in Belgium but Republicans oppose these measures.

As for Civil Unions both Democrats and Republicans are against the ropes because corporate entities are increasingly offering benefits to domestic partners. These partners are the ones leading the fight to pass Civil Union and Gay Marriage initiatives. So another factor is how corporations are feeding the fire with internal corporate policies. Not to mention liberal churches who interpret the Bible differently on the issue and are already sanctifying same gender unions. These churches are arguing that their freedom of religion is being assaulted by individuals who are trying to use the government to strictly enforce what they believe to be a narrow interpretation of Scripture they are not convinced of. So the question with this becomes one of religious liberty. Should the government pick sides in a theological debate or should the government step aside from the debate and offer all citizens the right to form a union with whoever they choose?

Due to the complexity of the issue both Democrats and most Republicans support Civil Unions. So this too is a non-issue.

Again...each party is just as bad as the other if the issues are studied closely. The only difference is that one party pretends to be more religious than the other and uses conservative religious rhetoric to get elected.

When it comes to politics I pray...

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

--Reinhold Niebuhr

In, Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis wrote:

"Before leaving the question of divorce, I should like to distinguish two things which are very often confused. The Christian conception of marriage is one: the other is the quite different question — how far Christians, if they are voters or Members of Parliament, ought to try to force their views of marriage on the rest of the community by embodying them in the divorce laws. A great many people seem to think that if you are a Christian yourself you should try to make divorce difficult for every one.

I do not think that. At least I know I should be very angry if the Mahommedans tried to prevent the rest of us from drinking wine. My own view is that the Churches should frankly recognise that the majority of the British people are not Christians and, therefore, cannot be expected to live Christian lives. There ought to be two distinct kinds of marriage: one governed by the State with rules enforced on all citizens, the other governed by the Church with rules enforced by her on her own members. The distinction ought to be quite sharp, so that a man knows which couples are married in a Christian sense and which are not."

The world will never entirely embrace our value system. Do we invest all the time and money in political action to force them to? What will this say to the unsaved about Christians? Will it hinder the gospel? We can spend multiplied millions of dollars and hour upon hour of manpower to dress a pig in the most elegant of dresses....but in the end she's still a swine and will resent our efforts.

I think that the reality is that abortion is here to stay. If we want to make a difference we have to help women. Civil Unions are going to be allowed. We're going to have to teach, preach, and maintain pure Christian marriages to serve as examples to the world as to what joy is found in real marriage and what it looks like.

[Cindy]

We all suffer because of it ... and none are immune to it's effects.

Sin brings havoc to our lives. But thank God for Jesus Christ ...

I pray Mr. Spitzer can bring the broken pieces to Jesus.

Amen, Daniel.
Only Jesus can save us.

[Ronzo]

http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/POLITICS/03/10/spitzer/t1home.spitzer.presser.ap.jpg

A friend of mine commented that he looks like an elf from the Lord of the Rings in this picture. I told them they had the wrong 'species'. He looks like an Orc.

[Ronzo]

I know you were inferring this, but it has been my observation in the church as well. A lot of the time when you see a preacher who is hung up on a particular subject, it eventually comes out that this is an issue that he struggles with himself. Not always, but often.

True. Very True.