Kristen/Ashley gets immunity in the Emperor Club prostitution probe.

The high-class hooker whose tryst with Eliot Spitzer brought down the governor has been given immunity to testify in the investigation of a worldwide prostitution ring.

Word that Manhattan federal prosecutors have given Ashley Alexandra Dupré immunity came as members of the Spitzer administration were feeling high heat in the expanding probe.

Workers for Spitzer's election campaign have hired lawyers, preparing to meet with probers looking into whether Spitzer illegally used campaign donations to get to and from his trysts with hookers.

This week, Kristie Stiles, a Spitzer campaign consultant, retained criminal defense lawyer Charles Clayman, who declined to comment.

Sources said at least one other unnamed campaign worker has also hired a lawyer.

Prosecutors are expected to subpoena both to get them to turn over financial records of Spitzer's gubernatorial campaign.

In other developments:

· Another Emperors Club prostitute met with federal prosecutors to detail her involvement with another of the 10 clients mentioned in the complaint filed against the ring in Manhattan Federal Court.

· Lawyers for Emperors Club owner Mark Brener and three co-defendants agreed to allow prosecutors to delay an indictment, a sure sign that plea deals are in the works. Brener's lawyer, Murray Richman, declined to discuss plea talks. "I'm going to represent him to the best of my abilities. This is a dire situation, very serious."

· Dupré's lawyer said the 22-year-old has been thrust into the "public glare" without her consent. Lawyer Don Buchwald says some publications have used Spitzer's "political misfortunes" to exploit Dupré for commercial reasons. He stopped short of saying she would sue.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2008/03/15/2008-03-15_gov_spitzers_hooker_gets_immunity.html

Another update:

Source: Dupré has already testified for grand jury

Dupré appeared before the secret panel as recently as Monday, said the attorney, who asked not to be identified.

Dupré, 22, isn't the only woman of interest to investigators. At least three more alleged prostitutes have hired lawyers and either are getting ready to talk to investigators or are waiting to negotiate immunity deals before doing so, according to defense attorneys. Immunity from prosecution often is granted to a witness who has information of value to prosecutors so that he or she can talk freely without fear of being charged. However, immunity deals don't prevent prosecutors from charging a witness with perjury.
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/state/ny-liinve0316,0,6803088.story