My thoughts on the Spitzer scandal.
I read the entire court document on the Emperor VIP club/Prostitution probe and Client 9, Spitzer.
The banks notified law enforcement it was looking at “funny money". The trace brought them to Eliot Spitzer and a hooker ring. 5,000 phone calls, 6,000 e-mails. So then, who else is on the list? Who are the names of Clients 1-10? I just believe Spitzer is the only high-profile character involved. WCBS TV (New York) reports that New York Governor Eliot Spitzer has lawyered up. He's retained the New York law firm, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind Wharton & Garrison.If Spitzer resigns, New York's Lt. Governor David Patterson will take his place.
Lots of holes in this probe into Spitzer and the rush to have him out of the Governorship:
1. According to ABC Nightline, someone tipped the FBI into investigation into prostitution probe. The real question is who tipped the FBI?
2. Why want Spitzer out now?
I read the entire court document on the Emperor VIP club/Prostitution probe and Client 9, Spitzer.
The banks notified law enforcement it was looking at “funny money". The trace brought them to Eliot Spitzer and a hooker ring. 5,000 phone calls, 6,000 e-mails. So then, who else is on the list? Who are the names of Clients 1-10? I just believe Spitzer is the only high-profile character involved. WCBS TV (New York) reports that New York Governor Eliot Spitzer has lawyered up. He's retained the New York law firm, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind Wharton & Garrison.If Spitzer resigns, New York's Lt. Governor David Patterson will take his place.
Lots of holes in this probe into Spitzer and the rush to have him out of the Governorship:
1. According to ABC Nightline, someone tipped the FBI into investigation into prostitution probe. The real question is who tipped the FBI?
2. Why want Spitzer out now?
3. Why was there a wiretapping in this case especially to nab Spitzer? And is this case an example to why Bush is pressuring Congress to extend the FISA and wiretapping bill for political reasons?
Certainly, all roads may lead to eyeing the 2010 Governor run:
First, The Post revealed earlier this year that Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno (R-Rensselaer) had told political associates that he was convinced that Bloomberg - a strong political ally - was interested in running for governor in 2010. The aide, Deputy Mayor Kevin Sheekey, told former state GOP Chairman William Powers late last month that Bloomberg was "open" to running for governor in 2010, sources said.
Who is William Powers? Powers is an Albany-based lobbyist since 2001 and was co-chairman of Rudy Giuliani's New York presidential campaign.
And there were contraversies with Spitzer's job as governor last year:
Blast from the past. Spitzer’s Staff Misused Police, Report Finds
Profanity-laced voice message traced to state GOP big's home
Remembered the alleged profanity call to Spitzer's father last year? Remember Senate GOP consultant Roger Stone? Stone had been guiding the Senate Republicans' offensive against Spitzer over Troopergate, in which the governor's aides enlisted state police to gather data they hoped would damage Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno. And Stone was accused of making that threatening call to Spitzer's father.
The illicit sex with prostitutes may not be the aim for Spitzer in this investigation. I think more of the aim are:
1. Money transferring or money laundering. In other words, determine whether Spitzer may had used public funds for his tryst.
2. Violation of Mann Act. The Mann Act, 18 U.S.C. Sec. 2421.The Mann Act may figure in since Spitzer brought a person for immoral acts across state lines.
We hope to get more answers into Spitzer scandal and the Emperor Club prostitution probe. And it is clear that Spitzer is guilty of cheating on his wife and betraying his family. But, this entire breaking new story of the fall of Spitzer and the media frenzy in this sex scandal demostrate a broken justice system. Spitzer is asked to resign pronto, yet Senator Craig or Senator Vitter haven't resigned. Is this a pick and choose of elected officials to stay and quit? And what makes Spitzer's sin different from Vitter, Craig, and other lawmakers involved in sex scandals?
The Emperor VIP Club/prostitution ring wasn't an interest to the Justice Department yet Spitzer was. More importantly, Pamela Martin and Associates was important to the Justice Department in the Deborah Jeane Palfrey's case. None of the defendants in the Emperor Club are charged with RICO yet Ms. Palfrey is.
Finally, two of the defendants in the Emperor Club probe face up to 20 years for money laundering. Yet, Ms. Palfrey faces up to 55 years in prison. Makes you wonder why we have some many selective prosecution cases in the justice system.
7 comments:
Thank you for this thoughtful posting. This was the Number One topic on "The View" this morning.
Whoopie came out for legalized prostitution, the Republican woman said it would be hell for his three daughters.
People weren't watching him, but his wife.
You're right, the GOP are going to play this big.
Barbara Walters said that because he was portrayed as the Crusading Top Cop of the Stock Market, his fall is so much more dramatic.
When you compare the number of Republicans who have been busted for sex scandals not to mention pedophilia, (sic) while being such family values hypocrites, it seems to me that the GOP "hit men" were looking for someone on the other side to get.
Once again, thanks for the great reporting.
It was another selective case and they were looking for something to stop him from charges big business with the crimes they committed. Now all this stems from the DOJ department. We have high ranking Democrats working with Republicans to get his job. Look to Cumo and Bloomberg to be part of this. New York is the heart of the money trail and people have to be protected from prosecution. If the GOP are allowed to get this man out of office this will show that Democrats don't protect their own. It will give McCain a clear shot to the White House because the Republicans will eat Obama alive and spit him out. All that Christians Values told by the Republicans is just lip service as you see all the corrupt/sinful Law Makers keeping their jobs and laughing at how stupid Americans are as we follow blindly to everyone lie they tell. Now the Attorney General has his orders to make sure every Democrat in positions to hurt Republicans get put out of office. No wonder the GOP looks forward to Obama being the Democratic candidate.
I appeciated your comments, Anon.
Cheers...
:D
Thanks for the good posting and analysis with summation.
Yes, I hear that it's not a matter of if he will resign but when after meeting with his lawyers etc and working out the best options for him.
He had to have known it would get uglier, and the press is all over this more so than usual because he is a Democrat and not GOP. The press/GOP have this big bone and they are going to chew on it and chew on it to no end. As GOP type activities don't get attacked by the press with the same vengence.
Keep looking.
Follow the money.
This just may be bigger than just the governor's seat. Payback's a bitch. With Spitzer disgraced, the lunatics get to run the asylum again.
Jackie--Tell your little angel to stay out trouble, anything that even smells of trouble.
Spitzer walked right into this one because he was naughty.
A lot of New Yorkers like women really thin.
Yeah, Jackie!
Tell the Rugby Man to zip up his pants and behave himself. ;-) And also, make sure that he keeps plenty of Purell handy in his briefcase. For God sakes, there are too many germs on Capitol Hill!
Man, there are some filthy lawmakers on Capitol Hill. And that goes for Randall "The Badger" Samborn.
And I look for Larry Flynt to come out of the woodwork of exposing hyprocrites if the GOP lawmakers start articles of impeachment on Spitzer.
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