I know all about it (I work in the industry) and I agree that there was some shady stuff (the bid rigging was ridiculous) and marsh got what they deserved, but I still feel he did it for publicity...and it worked.
Eliot Spitzer Vows To Crack Down On Excess Prostitute Pay Discovering that the exclusive international ring of prostitutes known as the "Emperor's Club" charged up to $5,500 an hour for their services, New York governor Eliot Spitzer vowed to put an end to this price gouging practice. Four people alleged to have run the "Emperor's Club" were charged with conspiracy to violate federal prostitution statutes, while two of them were also charged with laundering more than $1 million in illegal proceeds. "That kind of excessive compensation is simply outrageous. Prostitution is allegedly a victimless crime,” Spitzer said in a press conference that took place only in our imaginations. “But now we see that its customers can become its victims.” Spitzer added it was especially shameful that one of the most trusted names in prostitution had engaged in this shocking betrayal and rank greed. http://dealbreaker.com/2008/03/eliot_spitzer_vows_to_crack_do.php
irony abounds! <object width="425" height="373"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZBss945ejiY&rel=1&border=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZBss945ejiY&rel=1&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent"width="425" height="373"></embed></object>
I think Paterson will assume the vote. Maybe you should ask him. But given Paterson is black, it is likely he will switch.
If he was "only" a customer, how does that make him "involved in a prostitution ring"? I understand the hypocrisy argument, but I think the headlines are misleading/exaggerating. If he was indeed a customer and had to believe that these people knew who he was, that is very stupid of him...he put himself in a position where he could have been blackmailed or something. Also...has nobody ever explained the concept of "Don't sh.. where you eat" to this guy?
Read the headlines they show in this montage and tell me paying for a little strange tang nullifies this man's career. We need a whole lot more whoring Elliot Spitzers and whole lot less pious Alberto Gonzaleses.
The problem is, if he just hired a hooker in New York, this would be a simple case. He wouldn't even see any jail time. However, what busted him in the first place was the large dollar transactions from his accounts. The Feds looked at this escort services and saw large amounts of money being transferred. What really screwed him was sending the hooker by train across state lines from NY to DC violating the Mann act. The Mann act, is a ban on the interstate transport of females for “immoral purposes.” Its primary stated intent was to address prostitution, immorality, and human trafficking. If convicted he could see up to 10 years in prison. So now the Feds have wiretaps, text messages, emails, bank records, and a slew of other evidence we are all going to find out. This was not just a one time deal with Spitzer. He's been doing this more than once and that's why he had to admit to it. He's definitely trying to come up with some kind of plea deal. What I find interesting after hearing some of the NY legislatures speaking on TV is that if he doesn't resign within 48 hours, they plan on starting Impeachment proceedings to remove him. This is a terrible day for his wife, his kids (I can only imagine what the kids in school are going to say about him), and his family. However, Spitzer was an arrogant Son of a B@! and believed he was above the Law making him the biggest hypocrite. I'm glad he's gone.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mann_Act#Notable_individuals_investigated_under_the_Act * Chuck Berry * Charlie Chaplin * Rex Ingram * Jack Johnson * William I. Thomas * Frank Lloyd Wright * Charles Manson Sptizer probably won't get prosecuted because I'm sure he's already talking to his lawyers coming up with some kind of deal as we speak. However, it's there for the Feds.
thanks, but I kind of meant that as joke. the mann act was specifically created to intimedate people in the early 1900s. for instance jack johsnson was the first person prosecuted under the law, because of he would publicly date white women. IOW, the gov't usually breaks this out when they want to make a point or example of someone.
Obviously at $4300 you couldn't exactly call this an act involuntary or slavery. I wonder if the government will really want to open this can of worms. This business wouldn't exist without a loooong list of rich and powerful clients. The resources of the Governor of New York may have information to even out the balance sheet. I expect a low impact plea deal to be offered with the federal power assuming the maximum political damage without reprisal has been accomplished.
I was watching the news and they said he was using his job as leverage to avoid prosecution - he will step down for immunity. I don't get it. If I were the federal prosecutor, I'd say no deal. Why? Cause he will get impeached. If Spitzer wants to put his family through it then by all means go ahead.
