New York governor apologizes in wake of link to prostitution ring
Lisa Anderson, Chicago Tribune
Issue date: 3/10/08 Section: News
NEW YORK-Amid news reports that he patronized an international prostitution ring, Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who made his name as a straight-arrow, corruption-busting prosecutor, apologized to his family and the people of New York state Monday.
Declining to take questions, the first-term Democrat did not specify the reason for the apology nor raise the possibility of resignation.
Silda Wall Spitzer, eyes downcast and looking drawn, stood beside her husband of 20 years and the father of their three teenaged daughters as he spoke at a brief news conference in Manhattan's City Hall. The conference was hastily arranged in response to inquiries by The New York Times, which said it had learned from an anonymous source that Spitzer had told senior aides he was involved with a prostitution ring.
"I have acted in a way that violates my obligation to my family and violates my or any sense of right or wrong," said Spitzer, 48, who swept into the governor's office in January 2007 on pledges to restore ethics to state government.
"I apologize first and most importantly to my family. I apologize to the public to whom I promised better. I have disappointed and failed to live up to the standard I expected of myself. I must now dedicate some time to regain the trust of my family," said Spitzer, who made many enemies on Wall Street for his hard-charging ways and relentless investigations during his two terms as state attorney general.
Spitzer, who ended his remarks with a promise to "report back to you in short order," did not make any reference to a prostitution ring in his comments.
However, the New York Times and other news outlets linked Spitzer to a high-priced international prostitution ring, four of whose operators were arrested by federal prosecutors last week.
Nine alleged clients, identified only by number, are listed in a complaint filed in Manhattan federal court against the Emperors Club. According to the filing, the club employed some 50 female prostitutes between December 2004 and March 2008. The prostitutes, who commanded between $1,000 and $5,500 per hour, worked in a variety of cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Miami, London and Paris. The complaint indicates the club also was used for money laundering.
Declining to take questions, the first-term Democrat did not specify the reason for the apology nor raise the possibility of resignation.
Silda Wall Spitzer, eyes downcast and looking drawn, stood beside her husband of 20 years and the father of their three teenaged daughters as he spoke at a brief news conference in Manhattan's City Hall. The conference was hastily arranged in response to inquiries by The New York Times, which said it had learned from an anonymous source that Spitzer had told senior aides he was involved with a prostitution ring.
"I have acted in a way that violates my obligation to my family and violates my or any sense of right or wrong," said Spitzer, 48, who swept into the governor's office in January 2007 on pledges to restore ethics to state government.
"I apologize first and most importantly to my family. I apologize to the public to whom I promised better. I have disappointed and failed to live up to the standard I expected of myself. I must now dedicate some time to regain the trust of my family," said Spitzer, who made many enemies on Wall Street for his hard-charging ways and relentless investigations during his two terms as state attorney general.
Spitzer, who ended his remarks with a promise to "report back to you in short order," did not make any reference to a prostitution ring in his comments.
However, the New York Times and other news outlets linked Spitzer to a high-priced international prostitution ring, four of whose operators were arrested by federal prosecutors last week.
Nine alleged clients, identified only by number, are listed in a complaint filed in Manhattan federal court against the Emperors Club. According to the filing, the club employed some 50 female prostitutes between December 2004 and March 2008. The prostitutes, who commanded between $1,000 and $5,500 per hour, worked in a variety of cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Miami, London and Paris. The complaint indicates the club also was used for money laundering.
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