The
Eliot Spitzer prostitution scandal began on March 10, 2008, when
The New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded in 1851 and published in New York City. The largest metropolitan newspaper in the United States, "The Gray Lady"—named for its staid appearance and style—is regarded as a national newspaper of record...
reported that
DemocraticThe Democratic Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. It is the oldest political party in continuous operation in the United States and it is one of the oldest parties in the world. In the U.S...
New YorkNew York is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous. The state is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
Governor
Eliot SpitzerEliot Laurence Spitzer is an American lawyer and former politician of the Democratic Party. He served as Governor of New York from January 2007 until his resignation on March 17, 2008 in the wake of the exposure of his involvement in a high-priced prostitution ring...
had patronized a
prostitutionProstitution is the act or practice of engaging in sex acts for hire. In most cultures, prostitution is viewed by many as a deviant profession, either illegal or socially discouraged...
service called
Emperors Club VIPEmperors Club VIP was an international escort agency based in New York City, founded in 2004 and operated from the bank accounts of QAT Consulting Group, Inc., and QAT International, Inc...
. This ultimately led him to announce his resignation as governor on March 12, effective March 17.
Client–9
Governor Spitzer, referred to as "Client–9" in an affidavit filed in
US Federal CourtThe United States District Court for the Southern District of New York is a federal district court. Appeals from the Southern District of New York are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (in case...
, arranged to meet at the
Mayflower HotelThe Renaissance Mayflower Hotel, known locally as simply The Mayflower, is an historic hotel in downtown Washington, DC located on Connecticut Avenue NW, two blocks north of Farragut Square . It is the largest luxury hotel in the U.S...
in
WashingtonWashington, D.C. , formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States, founded on July 16, 1790...
on February 13, 2008 with a prostitute named "Kristen" — an "American, petite, very pretty brunette, 5 feet 5 inches and 105 pounds" (165 cm, 47 kg). Allegedly this contact was made by telephone while Spitzer was in
Niagara Falls, New YorkNiagara Falls is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 55,593. It is across the Niagara River from Niagara Falls, Ontario , both named after the famed Niagara Falls which they share...
at a press conference at Shorty's Bar and Grill on Pine Avenue. "Kristen" was later identified as the 22 year old Ashley Dupré. She intended to travel from
New York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States, and the center of the New York metropolitan area, which is among the most populous urban areas in the world. A leading global city, New York exerts a powerful influence over worldwide commerce, finance, culture, fashion and entertainment...
for the planned tryst and Spitzer agreed in advance that he "would be paying for everything — train tickets, cab fare from the hotel and back, mini-bar or room service, travel time and hotel". After the assignation on February 13, 2008, Spitzer paid her $4,300 in cash. The payment included $1,100 as a deposit with the agency toward future services.
Room 871 at the
Mayflower HotelThe Renaissance Mayflower Hotel, known locally as simply The Mayflower, is an historic hotel in downtown Washington, DC located on Connecticut Avenue NW, two blocks north of Farragut Square . It is the largest luxury hotel in the U.S...
was booked under the name George Fox, a
pseudonymA pseudonym is a fictitious name used by a person, or sometimes, a group.Pseudonyms are often used to hide an individual's real identity, as with writers' pen names, graffiti artists, resistance fighters' or terrorists' noms de guerre and computer hackers' handles. Actors, musicians, and other...
Spitzer had allegedly been using that was later revealed to be the name of his close friend, a
hedge fundA hedge fund is an investment fund open to a limited range of investors that is permitted by regulators to undertake a wider range of investment and trading activities than other investment funds, and that, in general, pays a performance fee to its investment manager...
investor. Reportedly, some of this information came to light from a
federalThe United States Department of Justice is a Cabinet department in the United States government designed to enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States according to the law and to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans...
wiretapTelephone tapping is the monitoring of telephone and Internet conversations by a third party, often by covert means. The telephone or wire tap received its name because, historically, the monitoring connection was an actual electrical tap on the telephone line...
.
Spitzer had at least seven or eight liaisons with prostitutes from the agency over six months, and paid more than $15,000 for their services. Federal agents had him under surveillance twice in 2008. According to published reports, investigators believe Spitzer paid up to $80,000 for prostitutes over a period of several years — first while he was
attorney generalIn most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may in addition have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.-Usage:The term has traditionally...
, and later as governor.
The investigation was purportedly initiated after
North Fork BankNorth Fork Bank was an American bank from 1950 until 2008 when it became Capital One Bank .In November 2007, it had 365 branches in the New York metropolitan area.-History:...
reportedA Suspicious Activity Report is a report regarding suspicious or potentially suspicious activity, filed with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network , an agency of the United States Department of the Treasury.- Introduction :...
suspicious transactions to the
Internal Revenue ServiceThe Internal Revenue Service is the United States federal government agency that collects taxes and enforces the internal revenue laws. It is an agency within the U.S. Department of the Treasury and is responsible for interpretation and application of Federal tax law. The official U.S...
(IRS) as required by the
Bank Secrecy ActThe Bank Secrecy Act of 1970 requires financial institutions in the United States to assist U.S. government agencies to detect and prevent money laundering...
. According to
NewsdayNewsday is a daily American newspaper that primarily serves Nassau and Suffolk counties and the New York City borough of Queens on Long Island, although it is sold throughout the New York metropolitan area...
, Spitzer wanted to transfer more than $10,000 to what turned out to be a front for the prostitution ring. However, he broke up the transactions into smaller slices due to
federal lawThe Bank Secrecy Act of 1970 requires financial institutions in the United States to assist U.S. government agencies to detect and prevent money laundering...
requiring the reporting of any transfer of $10,000 or more. When he tried to get his name taken off the wires, the bank refused, saying that the money had already been wired out and that it would be improper to do so in any case. The IRS's Criminal Investigation Division then started a probe, initially fearing that Spitzer was the victim of either
extortion'Extortion', outwresting, or exaction is a criminal offense which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection. Extortion is commonly...
or
identity theftIdentity theft is a term used to refer to fraud that involves someone pretending to be someone else in order to steal money or get other benefits. The term is relatively new and is actually a misnomer, since it is not inherently possible to steal an identity, only to use it...
.
North Fork's report in July 2007 went largely unnoticed until
HSBCHSBC Holdings plc is a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales in 1990, and headquartered in London since 1993. As of 2009, it is both the world's largest banking group and the world's 6th largest company according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine.Hong Kong which served as...
in the fall filed a report that the transactions were going to QAT International and QAT Consulting Group, which were offshore
shell companiesA shell corporation or shell company is a company which serves as a vehicle for business transactions without itself having any significant assets or operations. Shell corporations are not in themselves illegal and they may have legitimate business purposes. However, they are a main component of...
operating as a front for the
Emperors Club VIPEmperors Club VIP was an international escort agency based in New York City, founded in 2004 and operated from the bank accounts of QAT Consulting Group, Inc., and QAT International, Inc...
.
Later, the IRS contacted the
FBIThe Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency. The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
to investigate possible
political corruptionPolitical corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
. The investigation led Federal authorities to link the money transfers to the Emperors Club. Prosecutors charged the four people operating the escort service with violations of the
Mann ActThe United States White-Slave Traffic Act of 1910 prohibited white slavery. It also banned the interstate transport of females for “immoral purposes.” Its primary stated intent was to address prostitution, immorality, and human trafficking. The act is better known as the Mann Act, after James...
, a week prior to the revelations of Spitzer's involvement.
On November 19, 2007, Republican operative
Roger StoneRoger Stone is an American political consultant and lobbyist who specializes in opposition research for the Republican National Committee in the United States....
sent a letter to the FBI saying that Spitzer "used the service of high-priced
call girlA call girl or escort is a sex worker, who, , is not visible to the general public. Nor does she usually belong to an institution like a brothel, although she may be employed by an escort agency. The client must make an appointment, usually by calling a telephone number — hence the term "call...
s" while in
FloridaFlorida is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the north. It was the 27th state admitted to the United States...
. Stone provided detail saying that Spitzer wore calf-length black socks while performing the sex act.
Spitzer announced on March 12 that he would resign his post as Governor effective March 17, amid threats of his
impeachmentImpeachment is the first of two stages in a specific process for a legislative body to consider whether or not to forcibly remove a government official from office. The impeachment itself brings the charges against the official...
by state lawmakers.
"I cannot allow for my private failings to disrupt the people's work," Spitzer said at a news conference in New York City. "Over the course of my public life, I have insisted — I believe correctly — that people take responsibility for their conduct. I can and will ask no less of myself. For this reason, I am resigning from the office of governor."
Reactions
After Spitzer's initial press conference,
New York State AssemblyThe New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of New York. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
Republican Minority Leader
James TediscoJames Nicholas "Jim" Tedisco is the Republican New York State assemblyman from the 110th District, and was the Assembly's Minority Leader from November 2005 until April 2009. He has served in the Assembly since 1983...
and Republican
New YorkNew York is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous. The state is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
Congressman
Peter KingPeter T. King is a Republican politician from the U.S. state of New York, currently the United States Congressman for the state's 3rd Congressional District. King is the only Republican representative for Long Island...
separately called for his
resignationA resignation is the formal act of giving up or quitting one's office or position. It can also refer to the act of admitting defeat in a game like chess, indicated by the resigning player declaring "I resign", turning his king on its side, extending his hand, or stopping the chess clock...
. Tedisco later announced that he would initiate
impeachmentImpeachment is the first of two stages in a specific process for a legislative body to consider whether or not to forcibly remove a government official from office. The impeachment itself brings the charges against the official...
proceedings in the
State AssemblyThe New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of New York. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
if Spitzer did not resign. Spitzer's office and the
U.S. AttorneyUnited States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
for the
Southern District of New YorkThe United States District Court for the Southern District of New York is a federal district court. Appeals from the Southern District of New York are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (in case...
declined to comment, except to say that "There is no agreement between this office and Gov. Eliot Spitzer, relating to his resignation or any other matter." After being under investigation on the prostitution scandal Governor Eliot Spitzer federal security clearance was revoked.
"Kristen" revealed on March 13, 2008 she had gone without sleep since the scandal broke three days prior, and said she did not want to be thought of as a monster.
The real George Fox, who is a close friend and campaign donor of Spitzer, issued a statement denying any connection to the scandal beyond the unauthorized use of his name. He said that he was "disappointed and distressed" that Spitzer had used his name as an alias, and confirmed that Spitzer privately apologized to him.
According to
Nell MinowNell Minow is a film reviewer and writer who writes and speaks frequently on film and media and corporate governance and investing.-Personal:...
, a corporate-governance expert,
Wall StreetWall Street is a street in Lower Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. It runs east from Broadway to South Street on the East River, through the historical center of the Financial District. It is the first permanent home of the New York Stock Exchange; over time Wall Street became the...
reaction to the scandal has been largely positive, due to a general dislike of Spitzer amongst investment professionals. Governor Spitzer made his rise to victory in New York City politics promising "ethics and integrity to be the hallmarks of [his] administration." He had prosecuted several prostitution rings in his career, and his connection with a prostitution ring was felt as a betrayal by some women's rights and anti-human trafficking groups that had previously worked with him.
In an editorial reflecting on the scandal, political philosopher
Martha NussbaumMartha Nussbaum is an American philosopher with a particular interest in ancient Greek and Roman philosophy, political philosophy and ethics....
wrote "Spitzer's offense was an offense against his family. It was not an offense against the public. If he broke any laws, these are laws that never should have existed and that have been repudiated by sensible nations."
"Kristen"
"I just don't want to be thought of as a monster," the 22-year-old Dupré, an aspiring pop recording artist living in Manhattan, told the
New York Times, "This has been a very difficult time. It's complicated." Dupré was the subject of intense media coverage in the days after her role in the scandal became public. On March 15, the
New York PostThe New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
published an extensive photo shoot showing Dupré in provocative poses. , Dupré's profile on
MySpace.comMySpace is a social networking website. Its headquarters are in Beverly Hills, California, USA, where it shares an office building with its immediate owner, Fox Interactive Media, which is owned by News Corporation. MySpace became the most popular social networking site in the United...
had received nearly 12 million page views.
Dupré had reportedly been offered $1 million by
HustlerHustler is a monthly pornographic men's magazine published in the United States. It was founded and is owned by Larry Flynt.-History:Hustler was first published in 1974. It was a step forward from the Hustler Newsletter and The Hustler For Today's Man which was cheap advertising for Flynt's strip...
to pose nude for the magazine, and has received unofficial offers from
PenthousePenthouse, a men's magazine founded by Bob Guccione, combines urban lifestyle articles and soft-core pornographic pictorials that, in the 1990s, evolved into hardcore. Penthouse is owned by Penthouse Media Group, Inc. formerly known as General Media, Inc. whose parent company was Penthouse...
, among others.
Impact
Spitzer announced on March 12, 2008 that he would
resignA resignation is the formal act of giving up or quitting one's office or position. It can also refer to the act of admitting defeat in a game like chess, indicated by the resigning player declaring "I resign", turning his king on its side, extending his hand, or stopping the chess clock...
his post as Governor effective March 17 at noon amid threats of his
impeachmentImpeachment is the first of two stages in a specific process for a legislative body to consider whether or not to forcibly remove a government official from office. The impeachment itself brings the charges against the official...
by state lawmakers.
Lt. Gov.
David PatersonDavid Alexander Paterson is an American politician and the current Governor of New York. He is the first African American governor of New York and also the second legally blind governor of any U.S. state after Bob C...
succeeded him on March 17, 2008.
By resigning as governor, Spitzer lost his status as a
superdelegate"Superdelegate" is an informal term commonly used for some of the delegates to the Democratic National Convention, the presidential nominating convention of the United States Democratic Party....
in the
2008 Democratic nomination for presidentThe 2008 Democratic presidential primaries were the selection process by which voters of the Democratic Party of the United States chose their candidate for the 2008 United States presidential election...
, depriving
Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham Clinton is the 67th United States Secretary of State, serving within the administration of President Barack Obama. She was a United States Senator for New York from 2001 to 2009. As the wife of the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, she served as First Lady of...
, whom he supported, of a superdelegate vote. This also reduced the total number of superdelegate votes available. Though
David PatersonDavid Alexander Paterson is an American politician and the current Governor of New York. He is the first African American governor of New York and also the second legally blind governor of any U.S. state after Bob C...
, the Lieutenant Governor of New York at the time and Spitzer's eventual successor, is also a Democrat and a supporter of the Clinton campaign, Paterson already had a super delegate vote because of his status as a member in the
Democratic National CommitteeThe Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
and cannot vote twice. Spitzer discussed his status as a superdelegate on
The Colbert ReportThe Colbert Report is an American satirical late night television program that airs Monday through Thursday on Comedy Central in the United States and on both The Comedy Network and CTV in Canada...
on February 12, 2008, the day before Spitzer met his escort at the Mayflower Hotel.
On fictional television
- The Law & Order
Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, which premiered on NBC on September 13, 1990. Created by Dick Wolf, the series is set in New York City, and follows the professional lives of several police officers and prosecutors who represent the public interest in...
episode "Excalibur" was based on the scandal. The episode aired originally on May 21, 2008.
- The episode "Hell Hath No Fury" of the ABC
The American Broadcasting Company is an American television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. It first broadcast on television in 1948...
series CastleCastle is an American comedy-drama television series, which premiered as a mid-season replacement on ABC on March 9, 2009. The series is produced by ABC Studios....
was based on the scandal. The episode aired originally on March 30, 2009.
- The law drama The Good Wife
The Good Wife is an American legal drama, which premiered on CBS on September 22, 2009 at 10:00 p.m. EST.The series was created by Robert King and Michelle King , and stars Julianna Margulies,Christine Baranski, and Chris Noth. The Kings are executive producing with Ridley Scott , Charles...
, which premiered in September 2009, is inspired in part by the scandal.
External links