Eliot Spitzer

- Born: June 10, 1959
- Preceded by: George Pataki
- 58th governor of New York
- Former New York State Attorney General
- Resigned from his role as New York's Governor on March 17, 2008
- Admitted to patronizing prostitutes
- Used the services of the prostitution rings Wicked Models and Emperors VIP Club
- Joined Slate Magazine as a regular contributor in December of 2008
- Married Silda Wall in 1987

Eliot Spitzer is a former Democratic governor of New York. Spitzer resigned in March of 2008 after admitting to patroninzing the Emperors Club VIP prostitution ring and liaising with prostitute Ashley Alexandra Dupre. In November of 2008, federal authorities announced that no federal charges would be brought against Spitzer in relation to his involvement with the prostitution ring. New York News. New York Times: No Federal Charges Against Spitzer (November 6, 2008)
Spitzer also used the services of another prostitution ring, Wicked Models, which was run by Kristin Davis. Davis has written a book about the prostitution ring and its clients. She also appeared on 20/20 on February 6, 2009.Daily News: Madam's tell-all book reveals Eliot Spitzer prostitute scandal dirt (February 6, 2009) Daily News: Kristin Davis' little black book to fuel 'Manhattan Madam' tell-all (October 22, 2008) New York Post: And There He Ho's Again (March 27, 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. 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. 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 client of the Emperors Club VIP prostitution ring. 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 the following Monday. In November of 2008, the United States attorney in Manhattan, Michael J. Garcia, announced that no federal charges would be filed against former Spitzer. New York Times: No Federal Charges Against Spitzer (November 6, 2008)
Two people that ran the prostitution ring, Mark Brener and Cecil Suwal, were sentenced to prison in January and February 2009.
Spitzer also used the services of the prostitution ring Wicked Models run by Kristin Davis. In February 2009 she talked about Spitzer, claiming that he used the services about once a week from 2004 to 2006. She said he was "rough" and ""pushy" with the prostitutes and reluctant to use a condom. Davis says she blacklisted him, but eventually allowed him to use the services again.Daily News: Madam's tell-all book reveals Eliot Spitzer prostitute scandal dirt (February 6, 2009)
Columnist

In early December of 2008, Spitzer joined Slate online magazine as the writer of a regular column entitled "The Best Policy." According to Slate editor-in-chief Jacob Weisberg, Spitzer's column would focus on economic matters.The New York Observer: Meet Slate's New Columnist: Eliot Spitzer (December 3, 2008)