and Miss Kitty?

http://mauberly.blogspot.com/

Could this be another DOJ political prosecution like Sigelman?

Didn't deny it, didn't take questions, he should have just resigned there and then. Fool.

I mean, he was not running on a family-values platform, so I don't care if he hired a prostitute (though, I wonder if his wife knew about it).
I bet some on Wall Street are celebrating.

- eom

I was never that big a fan of Spitzer. There was something of a Giuliani quality to him in that with all his investigations into Wall Street the result was always a settlement that was rarely more than the Christmas bonus of a hand full of big traders. It always seemed more about hyping Spitzer than straightening out Wall Street. Marshall at TPM admonishes Spitzer saying he should have known after all the trouble he gave Wall Street that he'd be a marked man with teams of private investigators on his "tail." I'm sure there's some logic to that. Years ago I commented somewhere that I was sure Paul Krugman gets regular offers of sex from "beautiful 14 year old girls." But I think there's more to it than "private" investigators. This was apparently a "federal" wiretap. You'd think that maybe Democrats would think a little harder about ignoring the Bush regime's abuse of wiretaps and take FISA lawlessness seriously - in their own interests if not the people's. My sense is that this sort of wiretap surveillance of political opponents will be and has been fairly common. Democrats will have to be saints, both real and in appearances, and face it, that's something they're not.

I don't know the percentage of people in this country that are "unfaithful", but I have to believe that that percentage is higher among groups of people who have a lot of recognition and power, because face it, that power is appealing to both men and women. So throwing a number out there, let's say 25% of people engage in this behavior, so maybe 40% of the famous do this.

It becomes very, very scary if the current administration has a "book" on everyone and their shortcomings, a book that they can whip out whenever they need a boost, a book that they will not use on their own membership.

That's what FISA is about -- the ability for the current administration to "take down" people like this. No one is a saint - everyone has a vice of some sort -- just that some are more acceptable than others.

Not only was Spitzer involved in a prostitution ring, but (wiki) during his career as a attorney general he prosecuted a couple prostitution rings. In a more perfect world he might have recused himself for a conflict of interest. Was he prosecuting a business competitor? That might seem snarky, but keep in mind that if the first allegation is true, then we do know one thing: He actively protected a prostitution ring. His own.

The real question now isn't whether he should resign, but how much further this scandal extends. Will Spitzer's replacement, David Patterson, see to it that his former boss is prosecuted properly?

I agree with SPK that prostitution is a victimless crime, but it does remain illegal, so Spitzer's involvement is a genuine corruption scandal. Even if prostitution were legal, Spitzer put himself in a position that compromised his integrity as governor. How many of his decisions were directly or indirectly influenced by his compromised status?

About the only good thing to come of this may be that Peterson will become New York's first black governor. Let us hope the new guy has no skeletons in his closet.
.
"Adapt or perish." Murphy's Law? Nope, Darwin's Guarantee.

...that they can't manage to keep their pants zipped?

Stupid, stupid, stupid....

Arrogant to think he wouldn't get caught.

Although I could wonder what red flag caught the feds' attention.

A guy who prosecutes the wrongs of Wall Street. A guy who pissed off the wrong well heeled people.

Set-up?
I see none of the comments even raise the question, it is after all a "post 911 world" and we all reach for our stones, like we have been taught to do.

I'd love to see him say he'll resign the day Larry Craig does - and until then they can stuff their Family Values.

Das Leben der Anderen and the Stasi voyeurs.

My wife would stand over my bloody body and ask "how do I reload this".
My wife would do the same. I would let her!
Just like Clinton and his cigar.

_{repressive governments mix administrative clumsiness & inefficiency with authoritarian tendencies.}

ABC is reporting that Eliot Spitzer came under the attention of the Feds because his bank reported "suspicious money transfers" to the IRS. The Justice Department brought it to the FBI's Public Corruption Squad, who looked into it and found that payments were made to a company called QET, which did business as The Emperor's Club.

All kinds of questions arise here:

1. Why would the bank tell the IRS and not Spitzer himself if there was a suspicious transfer? Spitzer is a longtime client, a rich guy and the governor. We're talking thousands of dollars here, not millions. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense that they spotted a "suspicious transfer" made by the governor, and that this is how things began. It's possible it was just ordinary paperwork the bank had to file with the government whenever some particular flag was raised, but if that's the case, why did the DoJ go to DefCon 3?

2. What is a USA doing prosecuting a prostitution case? This isn't normally what the feds spend their time with.

3. Mike Garcia is a Chertoff crony. Sources familiar with the investigation say that he sent a prosecution memo to DC two months ago asking for authority to indict a public figure (Spitzer). Which means they had their case made long before the wire tap of February 13. Why did they then include this line from that conversation in the complaint?

"LEWIS continued that from what she had been told "he" (believed to be a reference to Client-9) "would ask you to do things that, like, you might not think were safe -- you know -- I mean that...very basic things...."Kristen" responded: "I have a way of dealing with that...I'd be like listen dude, you really want the sex?...You know what I mean." "

This salacious detail does not seem like it's necessary to make their case, and appears to be added for no other purpose than to destroy Spitzer's career.

4. How did Spitzer's name get leaked to the media, and who did it? Didn't happen to Dave Vitter.

5. Why did Mike Bloomberg suddenly start talking about running for governor recently? And why did he give $500,000 to Joe Bruno? He's good buddies with Mike Mukasey. What did he know and how did he know it?

6. The Mann Act? Are you kidding?

7. Spitzer's been in the line of fire of the GOP hit squad for a while. Roger Stone, Roger Stone, Roger Stone.

There are all kinds of things about this that just don't pass the smell test.

link

Spitzer should know better; he's a PEP (politically exposed person). All bank accounts held by PEPs are monitored. (In Canada and Switzerland, for sure, their bank accounts have to be approved by a bank officer and all transactions documented - I am not sure about your country.) The documentation for a PEP includes the source of all money deposited in their account.

If a total of $3000 or more is transacted in a 24 hour period in the form of electronic fund transfers, purchases of travellers' cheques and money orders and cash receipts or withdrawals, they have to be documented. If $10000 or more, the law in Canada requires they be reported to FINTRAC electronically. All suspicious transactions have to be reported to FINTRAC. For everyone, not just PEPs.

In Canada starting this June, banks have to electronically track all transactions that are at risk of money laundering or terrorist financing.

Albert

This information gathering is only about your enemies not about catching bad guys. Is there 1 case were it worked and yes I understand saying so would compromise security? It seams unless they're are created informants there's nothing. They should be worried about the home boys causings problems but no lets Destroy the enemy of Wall Street. Make sense to me.
jo6pac
Everything is on schedule, please move along or The race to the bottom continues.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch:

1. Run the country into the ground CHECK
2. Keep the real estate bubble going until full meltdown CHECK
3. Torture and suspension of constitution CHECK
4. Start wars for financial gain CHECK
5. Blowjob BAD

No he did not run on a family values campaign. He was supposed to clean up Albany. Now the scandal that was just coming out regarding his dirty politicking ( * http://newyorkhope.net/blog/2008/03/08/eliot-spitzer-day-433-nothing-changes/) is being pushed to off the pages and this story needs to be on the front page. Men are always going to unzip their pants. But we have to hold elected officials accountable and you cannot shove unknown campaign donors with no experience whatsoever into coveted appointments. You just can't.

Whatever the motivations of the original investigation, one thing is clear; this is a huge scandal that will feed on itself until it is resolved, and comes at a really awkward time in NY politics.

1. For the first time in 40 years the Republican party has been on the ropes w/respect to losing control of the Senate. This is now a hugely lost opportunity. Upstate Democratic political types are fuming at the stupidity of it all; not to mention the state departments, the budget process, et al, that will be paralyzed. With a trickle down effect on a lot of people who've taken jobs with the state and/or HUGE initiatives like early childhood education that may well fall by the wayside.

If Spitzer resigns ... Joe Bruno, the head of the senate hits the # 2 spot after Lt. Governor David Patterson takes office as there is no provision to elect a new Lt. Governor. Talk about a turn around. It also means the Dems lose their tying vote. Really, if one is a NY Dem right now, you just want go up to Spitzer and slap him silly.

2. Clinton and Schumer must be *absolutely* furious as this weakens the state in the presidential race; not to mention that should Clinton be the nominee and win; the implications for her seat are risky.

3. Not only is Spitzer in legal jeopardy with the feds, but NY state has very stringent ethics rules -- some of which Spitzer put in place -- that may also land him serious trouble.

From a personal perspective I could care less about his sexual proclivities; what I *do* care about is electing officials who keep their pants zipped in office when it comes to breaking the law ... ESPECIALLY a former attorney general WHO REALLY SHOULD KNOW BETTER -- including the fact that he had positioned himself as a lightening rod for politically motivated sniffs under the sheets by political operatives that could lead to investigations of a more serious nature based on innuendo alone, never mind WIRE TAPS and IM records.

In my opinion, he should resign immediately to stave the damage -- if for know other reason than for practicing stupidity in the extreme.

I'd like to know who Spitzer was banking with. Probably someone that didn't like him, for sure, but $4300 seems like an awfully small amount of money to cross the threshold of whether a bank officer should or should not report that to an IRS official. Why didn't they contact Spitzer before going to the IRS?

Who did George Pataki bank with, and did he have disbursements of similar amounts? Were these reported by his bank to the IRS? I'd bet his bank holds the accounts of several other big time politicians--are these accounts being monitored and reported to the IRS, or just the Democrats'?

Josh Marshall at TPM is right--the banks have their own "security" details to look into peoples' lives. If Spitzer was hatching a plan to regulate or take a big bite out of the international banks (vis a vis Ambac or MBIA) they would want to reach out and touch him, with DOJ assistance. And it does seem like just about everybody (Bloomberg) knew about this before the public.

Prostitution is a crime, yes. Spitzer was a crusader, yes, and now a hypocrite. But why this, now, when his biggest enemies are trying to hide insolvency and prevent a run on the banks? This whole thing stinks to high heaven, and unlike the Vitter and Craig sex scandals, this won't be covered solely by late night talk show hosts--since it's a Democrat the MSM will cover it 24/7 like the mole on a Clenis.

But the guy needs to see a therapist or two because something is out of control in his life.

Why do politicians wives go to these press conferences? Do they lose their self respect and identity when they marry a politician? I know it would not be safe to stick a microphone in my face if I was Mrs Spitzer.

I thought Spitzer was smarter than this, but I guess the horndog in him won out.
BTW, folks, this has been going on for a long time. The FBI has been doing it for a long time. For sure since J. Edgar Hoover's cross dressing days and his lists on political enemies.
And I would like to know about the prostitution rings Spitzer prosecuted. Was it shutting down pimps who were turning teenage runaways into crack whores or was it shutting down independent sex workers trying to build their 401K's?
We are so fucking inconsistent in our morality.
One politician gets fried for getting an expensive blowjob and another can sign the death warrant for thousands and waltz thru a $3,000,000,000,000 war.
As a society, we deserve what's coming down the road.
And it be coming folks.

the DOW is rallying today? Hmmm...

The Spitzer Sex Sting: A Few More Questions

No Comment
BY Scott Horton
PUBLISHED March 10, 2008

It looks like the Bush Justice Department just bagged themselves another Democratic Governor...

... On the other hand, ABC News this evening offers a starkly different account of how the investigation got launched. According to ABC, the whole investigation of the prostitution ring itself was triggered by an investigation of Spitzer.

The federal investigation of a New York prostitution ring was triggered by Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s suspicious money transfers, initially leading agents to believe Spitzer was hiding bribes, according to federal officials. It was only months later that the IRS and the FBI determined that Spitzer wasn’t hiding bribes but payments to a company called QAT, what prosecutors say is a prostitution operation operating under the name of the Emperors Club. …

The suspicious financial activity was initially reported by a bank to the IRS which, under direction from the Justice Department, brought in the FBI’s Public Corruption Squad. “We had no interest at all in the prostitution ring until the thing with Spitzer led us to learn about it,” said one Justice Department official.

Fox News reported earlier in the day that Spitzer would resign at his press conference. He did not. In any event, however, Spitzer—who was previously viewed as a rising star in the Democratic Party—is now damaged goods. Many had expected him to consolidate power in Albany, inching the Democrats towards control of the State Senate, and to rule as a powerful governor. He may or may not survive the initial shock waves of the scandal, but certainly no one now expects him to be a powerful force in the statehouse.

The Times notes in its story that Spitzer once prosecuted a prostitution ring:

In one such case in 2004, Mr. Spitzer spoke with revulsion and anger after announcing the arrest of 16 people for operating a high-end prostitution ring out of Staten Island. “This was a sophisticated and lucrative operation with a multitiered management structure,” Mr. Spitzer said at the time. “It was, however, nothing more than a prostitution ring.”

These facts are likely to dominate the punditry’s discussion of the issue. Spitzer will be labeled a hypocrite (a charge he can hardly refute).

However, there is a second tier of questions that needs to be examined with respect to the Spitzer case. They go to prosecutorial motivation and direction. Note that this prosecution was managed with staffers from the Public Integrity Section at the Department of Justice. This section is now at the center of a major scandal concerning politically directed prosecutions. During the Bush Administration, his Justice Department has opened 5.6 cases against Democrats for every one involving a Republican. Beyond this, a number of the cases seem to have been tied closely to election cycles. Indeed, a study of the cases out of Alabama shows clearly that even cases opened against Republicans are in fact only part of a broader pattern of going after Democrats. So here are the rather amazing facts that surface in the Spitzer case:

(1) The prosecutors handling the case came from the Public Integrity Section.

(2) The prosecution is opened under the White-Slave Traffic Act of 1910. You read that correctly. The statute itself is highly disreputable, and most of the high-profile cases brought under it were politically motivated and grossly abusive. Here are a few:

- Heavyweight boxing champion Jack Johnson was the first man prosecuted under the act — for having an affair with Lucille Cameron, whom he later married. The prosecution was manifestly an effort “to get” Johnson, who at the time was the most famous African-American. (All of this is developed well in Ken Burns’s film “Unforgiveable Blackness”).

- University of Chicago sociologist William I. Thomas was prosecuted for having an affair with an officer’s wife in France. Thomas was targeted because of his Bohemian social and his radical political views.

- In 1944 Charles Chaplin was prosecuted for having an affair with actress Joan Barry. The prosecution again provided cover for a politically motivated effort to drive Chaplin out of the country.

- Canadian author Elizabeth Smart was arrested and charged in 1940 while crossing the border with the British poet George Barker.

(3) The resources dedicated to the case in terms of prosecutors and investigators are extraordinary.

(4) How the investigation got started. The Justice Department has yet to give a full account of why they were looking into Spitzer’s payments, and indeed the suggestion in the ABC account is that it didn’t have anything to do with a prostitution ring. The suggestion that this was driven by an IRS inquiry and involved a bank might heighten, rather than allay, concerns of a politically motivated prosecution.

All of these facts are consistent with a process which is not the investigation of a crime, but rather an attempt to target and build a case against an individual.

The answer of the Justice Department to all this is likely to be: Trust us. But in the current environment, the reservoir of trust is tapped. The Justice Department needs to submit to some questions about how this probe got launched, who launched it, and to what extent political appointees were involved in its direction. This has nothing to do with Spitzer’s guilt or innocence. But it has everything to do with the fading integrity of the Public Integrity Section.

[the story utterly stinks. Two completely different stories reported by two different sources. One says he was gathered up in a prostitution sting - the other says he was being tracked for corruption. ABC says it happened on February 13th, Valentine's Day - but Valentine's Day is February 14th, so do your own math on why that statement was included. Coordinated and politicized leaking from "federal officials" who are "administration officials". More leaks from this investigation in the last week than from Patrick Fitzgerald's shop in years of investigating Plamegate. It looks like Spitzer did screw up, and I concur with the "stupid, stupid, stupid" - but it's crystal clear he's being politically assassinated here by people drawing their wages from your tax dollars, and everyone should be taking the wilder accusations with a serious grain of salt until the evidence is in - ES]

Just Askin'
Did anyone ever ask Richard Pryor, while he was still with us, if he thought that prostitution was a victimless crime?

Just Sayin'
Chalo's comment really has it right about why pay to play--
"A regular old mistress might [I interject, "would probably"] raise a conspicuous stink if she feels wronged; a vetted and well-paid professional knows that her career depends on her willingness and ability to maintain her clients' privacy under all circumstances."
One can walk away from a prostitute--it's implicit in the job.
Also, many prostitutes report that many of their clients use most of their alotted time to talk, knowing that they will get nonjudgmental listening. Of course the sex is there, for the relief from physical stress, but they say the men are desperate for someone to just listen.
I worked for some 3 years at a professional firm (I won't tell if legal, engineering, accounting, or other); there were about 30 men on staff and 3 of us women. This gave us (women) great opportunity to observe overall male behavior in a male work environment, both of the men on staff and the male clients for whom the professional work of the firm was done. I noticed that men whose lives were failing in some part--either their business was tanking, or they were in debt, or there was illness in their family, or they were working at a high level of competence, and were feeling that they were not doing as well as they should, therefore a high level of stress--were usually the men who would proposition me or one of the other women on staff during the course of the work. Sex is often just physical stress relief for men and not always associated with 'love' or 'romance'.
Therefore occurs the compartmentalization that allows infidelity with no thought as to its ramifications.
The part that galls me is that Spitzer had no thought for his party in New York State and for the status of every other elected official of his party in the state. I'll let the churches and marriage counselors worry about the wife. Esp since she chose to appear with him at the podium. Never will understand those wives.

Deadline to quit for NY's Spitzer
BBC

New York State Governor Eliot Spitzer has been given a deadline to step down or face impeachment proceedings over allegations that he hired a prostitute.

His top Republican opponent in the New York Assembly gave him up to 48 hours - until early on Thursday - to resign.

Mr Spitzer has not admitted paying for sex, but he did tell a news conference that he had let down his family.

There is also speculation he might face criminal charges, amid a reported inquiry into financial transactions.

The allegations against Mr Spitzer, a high-profile Democrat who campaigned for ethical leadership, have caused widespread shock in New York and US political circles.

The Wall Street Journal quoted "a person close to" the governor as saying he was likely to resign, perhaps by the end of the day.

New York Assembly Republican Minority Leader James Tedisco said: "If he does not resign within the next 24 to 48 hours, we will prepare articles of impeachment to remove him.

"We need a leader in place that has the support of people on both sides of the aisle," Mr Tedisco told reporters.

The assemblyman's spokesman told the BBC that the business of state government would be paralysed until Mr Spitzer left office.

The Republicans would need support from the Democratic majority in the assembly to start impeachment proceedings.

Lost trust

The BBC's Adam Brookes in Washington says Mr Spitzer has taken on a big Manhattan law firm - possibly in anticipation of being charged.

MORE

The Republican mud slinging, dirt throwing machine has begun - getting ready for the 2008 presidential elections.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York State Republicans threatened on Tuesday to impeach Gov. Eliot Spitzer if he does not quit over a sex scandal that has raised questions over whether he could face criminal charges.
Source

Spitzer's friend Fox upset his name used as alias
Tue Mar 11, 2008 7:18pm EDT

By Svea Herbst-Bayliss

BOSTON (Reuters) - George Fox, a friend and campaign contributor of New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, said on Tuesday he was disappointed and distressed by a report that said Spitzer used his name as an alias when contacting a prostitution ring.

Fox, a hedge fund investor, said the discovery of his name in the sex scandal engulfing Spitzer "comes as a great surprise and disappointment."

"There is absolutely no connection between Mr. Fox and the governor's alleged activity beyond the unauthorized use of his name," said a statement issued by a public relations firm representing Fox.

"Mr. Fox considers Gov. Spitzer a close friend and is distressed by the news that has emerged," he said.

Fox, whose firm Titan Advisors invests $3.5 billion in some of the world's most prominent hedge funds, and Spitzer have been friends for two decades and Fox donated to Spitzer's 2006 campaign for governor.

more

Given that Governor Spitzer was an accomplished and successful prosecutor of bad people doing bad things; given his long experience in government, it certainly appeared that he was "ready from day one" to assume his duties as governor of New York.

The lesson to be learned: People can be "ready from day one" and it doesn't mean squat if they have lousy judgment in their public or personal lives. Are you listening Hillary.... and Bill?

spammer blocked and pron removed :)

This Morning.

Gov. Spitzer to address the media

Updated: 03/12/2008 10:44 AM
By: news 10 Web Staff

ALBANY, N.Y. -- A top state official said Governor Eliot Spitzer is resigning after being linked to a prostitution ring.

Spitzer plans to address the media from Manhattan this morning.

The official said Spitzer will resign effective Monday and will be replaced by Lieutenant Governor David Paterson.

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=1n