A legend is being born from the dirty mess of Mr Clean. A NY Governor whose hypocrisy is no less than other Democrat figures, such as McGreevey the former Governor of NJ, former President Clinton or Teddy Kennedy.
His wife stands by him. 'Why' asks the tabloid, which then suggests such hoky concepts as forgiveness and steadfastness which they would decry in a conservative.
Although prostitution is illegal in most US states, legal experts said Mr Spitzer was unlikely to face charges as a client but could be legally vulnerable over payment methods.
The Times reported that federal authorities were first alerted to the case by a bank that reported its suspicions about the way Mr Spitzer was transferring money.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Will NY Governor's Wife Run For Senate?
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Spitzer resigns amid sex scandal
By Daniel Trotta
THE first pictures have emerged of the woman reportedly at the centre of the sex scandal that has forced New York Governor Eliot Spitzer out of office in disgrace.
Mr Spitzer resigned today amid the scandal over a $US1000-an-hour ($1070) prostitute, ending a career built on pugnacious investigations of Wall Street crimes and an image of moral rectitude which earned his the nickname "Mr Clean".
His deputy, David Paterson will replace him next Monday, Mr Spitzer announced in a brief statement that dwelt on his remorse for "private failings."
Mr Spitzer, a Democrat, had faced intense pressure to resign and impeachment threats from Republicans after The New York Times reported on Monday that he was caught on a federal wiretap arranging a meeting with a prostitute in a Washington hotel room.
According to US media reports, he was meeting with Ashley Alexandra Dupre, a 22-year-old nightclub singer who also worked as a high-priced escort.
Charges
Mr Spitzer still faces possible criminal charges. The chief federal prosecutor investigating the prostitution ring in question announced that he has not reached an agreement with Mr Spitzer about settling any criminal matter.
Mr Spitzer, 48 and married with three daughters, is a former New York state chief prosecutor who rose to prominence by investigating financial crime with a publicity-conscious vigor that earned him the nickname Sheriff of Wall Street.
He also broke up prostitution rings as attorney general.
"Over the course of my public life I have insisted, I believe correctly, that people, regardless of their position or power, 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," Mr Spitzer said.
Once viewed as a rising star among Democrats, Mr Spitzer made his announcement in a grim-faced appearance at his New York headquarters, with wife at his side.
'Comeuppance'
His disgrace was cheered by some financial power brokers who resented what they considered his heavy-handed and self-righteous ways.
"Wall Street is enjoying he got his comeuppance," said Michael Metz, chief investment strategist at Oppenheimer and Co.
Mr Spitzer made no specific reference to the allegations surrounding him. He had also given no details when he apologised to his family and the public on Monday for what he called a "private matter."
Between the two appearances he shuttered himself inside his New York City apartment as pressure grew for him to quit and reporters massed outside.
"He was an icon, a model of integrity, an enforcer of public and private morality and then you've got this utter hypocrisy," said Douglas Muzzio, professor of political science at Baruch College in New York.
"You can't help but be disillusioned."
Fall from Grace
Mr Spitzer became governor with nearly 70 percent of the vote in November 2006 on pledges to clean up state politics. But 70 percent of New York voters wanted him to quit, according to a WNBC/Marist poll conducted on Tuesday.
His resignation helped resolve the political paralysis that has gripped the state capital, Albany, over past two days.
Mr Paterson will be New York's first first black governor and the first legally blind governor in US history.
Mr Spitzer's legal situation was not yet clear.
Amid speculation that he was attempting to reach a plea deal to avoid or reduce any criminal liability, a federal prosecutor said no such pact had been reached.
"There is no agreement between this office and Eliot Spitzer, relating to his resignation or any other matter," Michael Garcia, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said.
Mr Garcia's office is investigating the prostitution service that Mr Spitzer reportedly used.
The Times, citing unnamed law enforcement officials, reported on Monday that Mr Spitzer was the man identified as "Client 9" in a federal affidavit revealing details from the investigation.
Client 9 arranged to meet with "Kristen," a prostitute who charged $US1000 an hour, on February 13 in a Washington hotel and paid her $(US)4300, the court document said.
The complaint unveiled last week charged four people with running a prostitution ring dubbed The Emperors Club.
Although prostitution is illegal in most US states, legal experts said Mr Spitzer was unlikely to face charges as a client but could be legally vulnerable over payment methods.
The Times reported that federal authorities were first alerted to the case by a bank that reported its suspicions about the way Mr Spitzer was transferring money.
Politicians' wives still standing by
from news.com.au
THE sight of a political wife standing at her husband's side as he issues an awkward apology in connection with an alleged sexual indiscretion is at once heartwrenchingly particular and oddly familiar.
Haven't we seen it all before?
Indeed, Silda Wall Spitzer's appearance in support of her husband Eliot, the New York Governor who allegedly met with a prostitute, echoed that of Dina McGreevey - the former New Jersey first lady whose husband in 2004 admitted to an affair with a man - right down to the wife's choice of attire (pastel blue suit) and accessories (demure pearls).
In what is developing into a set-piece of American political scandal, Silda Spitzer chose to deploy the silence of Suzanne Craig, wife of Idaho Senator Larry Craig, and the G-rated physical contact (hand-holding) of Carlita Kilpatrick, wife of Kwame Kilpatrick, Mayor of Detroit.
"That's always" the case, that the wife made an official appearance in the face of sexual scandal, Indiana University associate professor of family studies Kathleen Gilbert said. "Even if they want to kill him, they're there."
What these women are going through is probably "pretty horrifying," said Ms Gilbert but their options are few: "Just try to put yourself in their shoes and think of all these years you have portrayed a public role. In some ways, it becomes automatic. This is what you do. You're a good soldier and you go in and you play the role."
The appearance by the wife accomplishes at least one thing, according to Northwestern University political science Professor Kenneth Janda: "It tends to make the offence seem somewhat less serious. If the wife were not there, it would appear the family had fallen apart."
Interestingly, though, the trot-out-the-wife technique may be no more beneficial to politicians than it is pleasant for their spouses.
"It rarely works," said Brian Gaines, an assistant professor at the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois.
"McGreevey was basically throwing in the towel anyway. He was stepping down. Senator Craig I think is making it interesting and stretching it out, but Ithink his political career is over as well" over allegations that he tried to solicit sex in an airport toilet.
Political science researchers have found likability is not nearly as important in weathering a scandal as competence, Professor Gaines said.
'People will forgive a scandal if they think a politician or candidate is particularly competent.
"And in (Bill) Clinton's case I think it was competence that saved him. People thought, 'Well, I wouldn't want him alone in an elevator with my daughter but he seems good at running the economy'."
And what of the women who are called upon to perform the painful - and maybe even ineffective - role of supportive spouse in a sex scandal?
Some, notably Hillary Clinton, emerge largely unscathed, although it is worth noting that she did not appear at her husband's side during the TV address in which he confessed to an inappropriate relationship with intern Monica Lewinsky.
Suzanne Craig is still soldiering on, according to news reports.
Silda Spitzer, 50, a former corporate lawyer with three teenage daughters, has not yet deviated from the standard script.
But Mrs McGreevey, the most forthcoming of the supportive spouses, has appeared on Oprah and written a book Silent Partner: A Memoir of My Marriage.
Mrs McGreevey, who listened with an incongruous smile on her face as her husband announced he was gay, later told Oprah: "I smiled because I didn't want to break down. But, as his world was falling apart, he was still choreographing the entire day and how everything would play out. (He) told me when to smile, what to say.
"He was telling me what to do, and he said, 'You have to be Jackie Kennedy today'. And I'm thinking, 'Jackie Kennedy-- her husband was murdered. You lied and cheated on me, and I have to be Jackie Kennedy?"'
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