You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
-Lurid Crime Tales-
Spitzer Fights to Avoid Charges After Resignation
2008-03-14
New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, who resigned yesterday amid allegations that he patronized prostitutes, is now in a legal fight to avoid criminal charges.

Spitzer, 48, stepped down after the New York Times reported he was ``Client 9'' of an international call-girl ring whose operators were charged with crimes last week. Spitzer's lawyers need to persuade the U.S. government not to file related charges against him because he allegedly summoned prostitutes to Washington and paid them secretly, former prosecutors said.

Prosecutors are more likely to consider going after Spitzer, a Democrat, for money laundering or misusing his office than for prostitution because customers of call girls are rarely pursued by federal authorities, the lawyers and ex-prosecutors said. ``Given the rarity of federal prosecutions of this kind of conduct, the motives of the prosecutors might be called into question,'' said Steven Peikin, a former U.S. prosecutor in Manhattan. ``The facts that are not well known are those surrounding the financial transactions. That would be an area of greater concern.''
Posted by:Fred

#16  Splitz used "George Fox" as a nome de depravite? Fox was a Quaker leader. I am not amused.
Posted by: McZoid   2008-03-14 22:08  

#15  Look at the story about Dickie Scruggs just above. Spitzer might get hammered!
Posted by: Eric Jablow   2008-03-14 18:56  

#14   I smell... I smell.... I smell the faint whiff of, yes.... it's, it's a Clintonian Presidential PARDON!!!!

Big problem with some words in your post,

"Clintonian Presidential", Ummm, yep those words, highly unlikely as Shrillary is LOSING.
Posted by: Redneck Jim   2008-03-14 17:20  

#13  George Fox was the founder of the Religious Society of Friends, parent of the AFSC.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2008-03-14 14:46  

#12  perhaps he can get some legal pointers from Mr. Nifong, another prominent (former) attorney)
Posted by: USN, Ret.   2008-03-14 14:30  

#11  Saw this tidbit in New York Post (ht HA):
The 22-year-old call girl had several dates with the governor over the past year, the sources said, but always knew him as "George Fox" - the name of one of Spitzer's close friends that he used to hide his identity.

Some friend spitzer is.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2008-03-14 14:07  

#10  Good point, mhw: remember when the Libby trial was going on, how the Dhimmicrats were demanding George Bush to commit, in advance, regarding a pardon? Turn about is fair play.
Posted by: Steve White   2008-03-14 11:29  

#9  He'll pay lots of $$$. No indictment on laundering charges.

There, I just saved you all a bunch of reading time in the future, cause that's how it will work. That's how it almost always works. $$$ for fines or for lawyers to grind the process to a halt until it can quietly die away. Only us little people go to the slam, usually.
Posted by: bigjim-ky   2008-03-14 11:09  

#8  I don't know if the DoJ has figured out what court to use, but odds are it will be the Lower Manhattan district.

If so, I'm pretty sure they will wait a month or so to see Spitzer's level of cooperation and also see if shows any real contrition or if he goes on a 'blame the FBI' offensive. I would bet Spitzer and the district will work something out so this does not go to trial.

In they meantime, it's fair game for the media to ask Clinton (especially) and Obama whether they intend to pardon the guy or commute any post sentencing prison time (the latter was the Libby deal).
Posted by: mhw   2008-03-14 10:47  

#7  I smell... I smell.... I smell the faint whiff of, yes.... it's, it's a Clintonian Presidential PARDON!!!!
Posted by: Besoeker   2008-03-14 09:41  

#6  Making use of prostitutes, which I find icky, isn't nearly as bad as misusing public funds and accepting financial gifts from those one knows to be professional criminals. Then, too, it's best to prosecute what a jury is likely to convict.

It's not clear from the article, though, whether former governor Spitzer is fighting to avoid all charges, or just those for patronizing prostitutes.
Posted by: trailing wife    2008-03-14 09:18  

#5  ``Given the rarity of federal prosecutions of this kind of conduct, the motives of the prosecutors might be called into question,'' said Steven Peikin, a former U.S. prosecutor in Manhattan.

Then perhaps they should be prosecuting this kind of conduct more often, a$$hole.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2008-03-14 07:50  

#4  I don't think he could shake a Breach of Trust charge. I don't know if NY governors can issue general pardons, but the public will want some punishment.
Posted by: McZoid   2008-03-14 05:45  

#3  Don't go down alone Governor. A list of your politician pals that you've referred, or who came along for the ride Eliot.... that's what we're looking for as well. Here's a pencil, start jotting them down please.
Posted by: Besoeker   2008-03-14 02:35  

#2  Mr Spitzer,

How many money launderers and hookers have you put in prison in your time as a public servant?

You think the law is neat, Neatly allow the law it's path.
Posted by: newc   2008-03-14 00:54  

#1  Plus the money laundering charges are felonies.
Like I said before, this effectively ends any hope he ever had of becoming President. Which I think is a good thing.
Posted by: Rambler in California   2008-03-14 00:50  

00:00