From “Mr. Clean” to “Client 9,” a bombshell federal affidavit proved to be the demise of New York’s top politician. On Wednesday, March 12, Governor Eliot Spitzer resigned from office after he was linked in the document to a high-priced prostitution ring.
“Over the course of my public life, I have insisted, I believe 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 during a press conference at his Manhattan office. “For this reason, I am resigning from the office of governor.”
Spitzer asked that his resignation take effect on Monday, March 17 to ensure an orderly transition. Lieutenant Governor David Paterson, who was Spitzer’s running mate in 2006, will step in as governor.
“I hope all of New York will join my prayers for my friend, David Paterson, as he embarks on his new mission,” Spitzer said.
During the press conference, the scandal-ridden governor made no mention of allegations circulating in the media - that he used the services of call-girl service Emperors Club V.I.P. and paid for a tryst with a prostitute named “Kristen” at a Washington, D.C. hotel on Valentine’s Day eve.
The federal affidavit unsealed recently includes information about a wiretapping of Client 9, who arranged for a hooker, haggled on the price and asked what his would-be tryst looked like. Law enforcement sources have said that the john is in actuality the governor.
According to sources in published reports, Spitzer spent tens of thousands of dollars on pricey call girls over several years.
During his brief statement on Wednesday, the governor instead told the media that he plans to take time to “help and heal myself and my family” and that he one day hopes to serve the common good outside of the political realm.
“From those to whom much is given, much is expected. I have been given much: the love of my family, the faith and trust of the people of New York, and the chance to lead this state. I am deeply sorry that I did not live up to what was expected of me,” Spitzer said, with his wife Silda by his side.
From the time the scandal first broke on Monday, March 10, Spitzer had been holed up in his Manhattan apartment, reportedly weighing his options as to whether he would have to resign and how to avoid an indictment.
For his part, Spitzer could be charged with “structuring,” a term for moving money in order to conceal the purpose or source as well as violating the Mann Act, which makes it a felony to transport women across state lines for prostitution. As of Wednesday, March 12, no charges against the governor had been filed. However, the U.S. District Attorney said that no deal had been announced immediately following Spitzer’s press conference.
Spitzer has hired the prominent law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, his spokesperson confirmed in published reports.
As early as Monday, March 10, Republican state legislators had demanded that the governor step down or face impeachment proceedings for his prostitution patronization. The following day, a number of top state Democrats joined in on the call to the former attorney general, who was once touted as a crime fighting Eliot Ness like “Steamroller,” to resign.
The sex-ring scandal, which developed 14 months into Spitzer’s first term, came to light when four people were arrested and charged with running the call-girl service. Federal officials believe that the ring netted more than $1 million by pimping out a bevy of more than 50 prostitutes in six cities.
About an hour before Spitzer made his resignation speech, Senate majority leader Joseph Bruno told reporters that the state legislator planned to continue with their work by passing the budget in both the Assembly and the Senate, despite the ongoing “crisis.” Bruno said he expected the legislature to begin conference committees on Thursday, March 13.
“As for Eliot Spitzer, my heart goes out to his wife and family at this time. He must deal with his own problems in his own way, but it is now time for us and all New Yorkers to move forward,” Bruno said.
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