© 2024 WRVO Public Media
NPR News for Central New York
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Spitzer linked to Prostitution ring

By Jasmyn Belcher

Oswego, New York – Governor Eliot Spitzer has issued a brief statement,apologizing to his family and the public for reported links to a prostitution ring.

The New York Times reported earlier today that Spitzer told senior advisers of his involvement. The 48-year-old Spitzer is married and has three daughters. Details about the prostitution connection are not clear.

Last week federal prosecutors in Manhattan filed conspiracy charges against four people accusing them of running a prostitution ring that charged wealthy clients in Europe and the U.S. thousands of dollars for prostitutes.

The Web site of the Emperors Club VIP displays photographs of the prostitutes' bodies with their faces hidden along with hourly rates depending on whether the prostitutes were rated with one diamond, the lowest ranking, or seven diamonds, the highest. Prosecutors say the most highly ranked prostitutes cost $5,500 an hour.

The case is being handled by prosecutors in the Public Corruption unit of U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia's office, which had no comment.

Spitzer has built his political legacy on rooting out corruption, including several headline-making battles with Wall Street while serving as attorney general. He stormed into the Governor's office in 2006 with a historic share of the vote, vowing to continue his no-nonsense approach to fixing one of the nation's worst governments.

During his two terms as attorney general, his cases included a few criminal prosecutions of prostitution rings and into tourism involving prostitutes.

In 2004, he was part of an investigation of an escort service in New York City that resulted in the arrest of 18 people on charges of promoting prostitution and related charges.

Spitzer concluded his announcement today by saying he must dedicate some time to gain the trust of his family.

(Source: Associated Press)