Eliot Spitzer

Guide Note:

Eliot Spitzer is a former Democratic governor of New York. In 1998, Spitzer was elected as the New York State Attorney General after launching an investigation that eventually led to the downfall of the infamous Gambino crime family in New York.

Fast Facts:

1. Born: June 10, 1959
2. Preceded by: George Pataki
3. 58th Governor of New York
4. Former New York State Attorney General
5. Resigned [[March 17, 2008]

Background

Spitzer was noteworthy as a reformer, who prosecuted difficult and formerly-overlooked areas of crime such as stock-market abuses and securities fraud. Spitzer was elected governor of the state in 2006, winning the position previously held by George Pataki. During his tenure, Spitzer backed a controversial bill that would allow driver's licenses to be issued to illegal aliens, and another in favor of gay marriage.

Scandal

On March 10, 2008, Spitzer apologized for his involvement (as a customer) in a prostitution ring, the Emperors Club VIP. According to an FBI affidavit, the governor, referred to as "Client-9" was known by an escort, referred to as "Kristen" to have requested "unsafe sexual practices" in the past. Spitzer and 'Kristen' allegedly had a liaison at a Washington, D.C. hotel on February 14, 2008. Shortly before noon on March 12, Spitzer announced his resignation, effective Monday, March 17.

• Also try: Eliot Spitzer Sex Addiction Therapy | Spitzer Emperors Club | Silda Spitzer | Cramer Cries Over Spitzer

The Mahalo Top 7

1. Wikipedia: Eliot Spitzer
2. Notable Names Database: Eliot Spitzer
3. USA Today: Spitzer's fall draws little sympathy (March 14, 2008)
4. Huffington Post: Spitzer Prostitute Details: $80,000 Spent, Mood Music, Multiple Prostitutes, Up To A Decade Of Use (March 12, 2008)
5. Ben Smith (The Politico): Spitzer's sudden fall from grace (March 11, 2008)
6. The New York Times: Spitzer Is Linked to Prostitution Ring (March 10, 2008)
7. Slate Magazine: How Eliot Spitzer got so powerful (October 21, 2004)  

Eliot Spitzer Recent News

• Topix.net: Eliot Spitzer News
• The New York Times: Elliot Spitzer News 
• Google News Search: Eliot Spitzer
• Daily News: Gov. Spitzer Emerges From Seclusion to Escape City (March 15, 2008)
• FoxNews.com: Governor Spitzer to Endorse Hillary... (May 8, 2007)
• The New York Times: "Legislators Pick a Comptroller, Defying Spitzer"   (February 7, 2007)

Spitzer Prostitution Scandal

• CNN.com: Spitzer to step down by Monday (March 12, 2008)
  • Gov. Eliot Spitzer said Wednesday that he will step down from the state's top office and promised to "atone for my private failings" with family members.
• Agence France-Presse: Spitzer's call girl once worked for ring he busted (March 14, 2008)
  • The call girl whose tryst with disgraced New York Governor Eliot Spitzer brought about his downfall once worked for an escort service [that Spitzer] busted, its former owner said.
• The Man Behind the Spitzer Prosecution: Law Blog (Wall Street Journal) (March 14, 2008)
• The New York Times: Woman at the Center of Governor’s Downfall (March 12, 2008)
  • "She left a broken home on the Jersey Shore at 17 and came to New York City to work the nightclubs as a rhythm and blues singer. Now, at 22, she is the unwitting, and as yet unseen, star of the seamy drama that is the downfall of Gov. Eliot Spitzer of New York."
• ABC News: Spitzer Escort: Governor Was a Nice Guy, Good Tipper (March 11, 2008)
  • A 22-year-old escort found on another call-girl Web site claimed to ABC News in a phone interview that Gov. Eliot Spitzer had been one of her customers two years ago. . ."He didn't do anything that wasn't clean," she said...
• Paul Kiel (TPMMuckraker): How The "Emperor's Club" Probe Started (March 11, 2008)
• The New York Times: Spitzer Is Linked to Prostitution Ring (March 10, 2008)
• Scott Horton (Harper's Magazine): The Spitzer Sex Sting: A Few More Questions (March 10, 2008)
• The Smoking Gun: Spitzer Linked To Hooker Probe (March 10, 2008)

Spitzer Impeachment News

• WashingtonPost.com: FBI Watched Spitzer Before February Incident (March 12, 2008)
• MiamiHerald.com: Spitzer works on deal as calls to resign grow (March 12, 2008)
  • It could prove difficult for New York Republicans to remove Spitzer from office in the absence of an indictment. According to reporters from Newsday, Spitzer's lawyers are attemtping to negotiate a plea deal with federal prosecutors.
• FoxNews.com: Spitzer Faces Impeachment Threat as Reports Surface of Costly, Chronic Sex Arrangements (March 11, 2008)
  • New York Assembly Republican leader James Tedisco on Hannity and Colmes: "We're going to give him 24 to 48 hours to do the right thing, and the right thing is to resign because he has been compromised."
• New York Daily News: Spitzer scandal never ends (March 11, 2008)
• Reuters: Calls mount for New York Gov. Spitzer to resign (March 12, 2008)
  • A WNBC/Marist poll estimated that 70% of New York voters would prefer that Spitzer quit. According to unnamed Reuters sources, Spitzer's wife Silda is encouraging him to fight to remain in office.
• The New York Times: State in Limbo as Questions Swirl About Spitzer’s Future (March 11, 2008)
• Guardian.co.uk: Pressure grows on governor to resign (March 12, 2008)

Eliot Spitzer Information and Background Articles

• BBC News: Spitzer targets music companies (October 22, 2004)
• The New Yorker: "Election Night Diary: Party Animals" (November 20, 2006)
• New York Magazine: "Eliot Spitzer Chokes on Pot Deal" (August 7, 2006)
• The New Yorker: "Mixed Motives" (November 8, 2004)
• PBS Frontline: The Wall Street fix: Interview (April 16, 2003)
• TIME: "Wall Street's Top Cop" (December 30, 2002)

Eliot Spitzer Commentary and Criticism

• Muckety: Eliot Spitzer, Emperor's Club V.I.P. prostitution ring
• The New York Times: "Mr. Spitzer and Gay Marriage" (April 24, 2007)  
• The New York Sun: "The Education of Eliot Spitzer" (March 30, 2007)
• Wall Street Journal: "The Passion of Eliot Spitzer" (May 3, 2006)
• Cato Institute: Not Spitzer's Job (October 22, 2004)
• Spitzer Report

Eliot Spitzer Blogs and Message Boards

• Times Union New York Politics: Capitol confidential
• Gawker: Posts about Eliot Spitzer
• Wonkette: Posts about Eliot Spitzer
• Technorati: Eliot Spitzer

Eliot Spitzer Media

• Official Site: Book: Spoiling for A Fight: The Rise of Eliot Spitzer
• YouTube: Eliot's Interview (Time 3:43)  
• Yahoo! Image Search: Eliot Spitzer
• YouTube & Google Video Search: Eliot Spitzer

Eliot Spitzer Sex Scandal Jokes

• City Room (The New York Times): The Late-Night Comics Take on Spitzer (March 11, 2008)
• The Onion: New York Governor Resigns (March 14, 2008)
• TVGuide Blog: Spitzer Fuels Late-Night Laughs... (March 12, 2008)
• San Jose Mercury News: Spitzer's troubles ready-made for jokes (March 11, 2008)
• Gawker: Top 8 Spitz Hits: Vote For the Best (March 11, 2008)  
• AmericaWantsToKnow: Eliot Spitzer Jokes From Argus (March 10, 2008)

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