Call girl could be Spitzer's undoing

NEW YORK - Gov. Eliot Spitzer's political career teetered on the brink of collapse yesterday after the corruption-fighting politician once known as "Mr. Clean" was accused of paying for sex with a high-priced call girl.

The Democrat faced immediate calls to step down after a news conference in which a glassy-eyed Spitzer, 48, his shell-shocked wife, Silda, at his side, apologized to his family and the people of New York.

"I have disappointed and failed to live up to the standard I expected of myself," said Spitzer, who has three daughters.

"I must now dedicate some time to regain the trust of my family," he said.

He did not discuss his political future and ignored shouted questions about whether he would resign. He gave no details of what he was apologizing for.

Spitzer was caught on a federal wiretap arranging to meet at a Washington hotel room on the night before Valentine's Day with a prostitute from a call-girl business known as the Emperors Club VIP, according to a law-enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is continuing.

Spitzer has not been charged, and prosecutors would not comment on the case. A spokesman for Spitzer said the governor has retained the Manhattan law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind Wharton & Garrison.

An affidavit based on the wiretap told of a man identified as "Client 9" - Spitzer, according to the law-enforcement official - paying $4,300 in cash, some of it credit for future trysts, some of it for sex with a "petite, pretty brunette, 5-feet-5 inches, and 105 pounds" named Kristen.

Spitzer stormed into the governor's office 16 months ago, vowing to root out corruption in state government in the same way he took on Wall Street leaders with a vengeance as state attorney general.

His first year in office was marred by turmoil, and the latest scandal raised questions about whether he would make it through a second.

"He has to step down," said U.S. Rep. Peter King (R., N.Y.). "No one will stand with him. I never try to take advantage or gloat over a personal tragedy. However, this is different. This is a guy who is so self-righteous, and so unforgiving."

New Jersey's Gov. Corzine, a Democrat, told MSNBC that Spitzer had "a tough row ahead of him" to stay in office. Corzine, who has worked closely with Spitzer on several matters, said earlier yesterday that the "serious and disturbing accusations" were "a complete shock."

If Spitzer were to quit, Democratic Lt. Gov. David Paterson would become New York's first black governor. Paterson, 53, who lost most of his sight as an infant, had a two-decade career in the state Senate.

Spitzer is the third governor in the New York area to run into ethics trouble in recent years. In 2004, New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey resigned after announcing he was gay and had had an affair with a male staffer. That same year, Connecticut Gov. John Rowland resigned; he pleaded guilty to conspiracy, admitting he accepted more than $100,000 in vacations and trips to Las Vegas from a state contractor and a jet company that had received a tax break.

The allegations involving Spitzer were outlined in papers filed in federal court in New York.

A defendant in the case, Temeka Rachelle Lewis, told a prostitute identified only as "Kristen" that she should take a train from New York to Washington for an encounter with Client No. 9 on Feb. 13, according to a complaint. The defendant confirmed the client would be "paying for everything - train tickets, cab fare from the hotel and back, mini bar or room service, travel time, and hotel."

Spitzer stayed at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington on Feb. 13, the New York Times reported, citing a source who was told of his travel arrangements.

The prostitute met the client in Room 871 about 10 p.m., according to the complaint. When discussing how the payments would be arranged, Client 9 told Lewis: "Yup, same as in the past, no question about it."

According to court papers, an Emperors Club agent was told by the prostitute that her evening with Client 9 went well. The agent said she had been told the client "would ask you to do things that . . . you might not think were safe," according to the papers but that Kristen replied: "I have a way of dealing with that. . . . I'd be, like, listen, dude, you really want the sex?"

The next day, Spitzer testified before a congressional subcommittee about regulations on the bond industry.

The prostitution ring arranged sex between wealthy men and more than 50 prostitutes in New York, Washington, Los Angeles, Miami, London and Paris, prosecutors said. Four people allegedly connected to the high-price ring were arrested last week.

The club's Web site showed photos of scantily clad women. It also showed hourly rates that varied by the prostitutes' rating, from one diamond to seven diamonds. The highest-ranked prostitutes cost $5,500 an hour, prosecutors said.

The case began as a financial investigation by the IRS, and was referred to the public-corruption unit of the U.S. Attorney's Office, authorities said. It was not clear whether Spitzer was a target from the start, or whether agents came across his name by accident.

The four defendants accused last week were charged with violating the 1910 federal Mann Act, which outlaws traveling across state lines for prostitution.

The scandal was bad news not only for Spitzer but for the entire Democratic Party in New York. Spitzer went into 2008 intent on taking back the state Senate from the Republicans.

Spitzer, as governor, is also a superdelegate who has endorsed New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton for president.

Clinton said she was "sending my best wishes and thoughts" to him and his family: "Let's wait and see what comes out of the next days."

Yesterday's statement

by New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer:

"For the past nine years, eight years as attorney general, and one as governor, I have tried to uphold a vision of progressive politics that would rebuild New York and create opportunity for all. We sought to bring real change to New York and that will continue.

"Today, I want to briefly address a private matter.

I have acted in a way that violated the obligations to my family and that violates my - or any - sense of right and wrong.

"I apologize first, and most importantly, to my family.

I apologize to the public, whom I promised better.

"I do not believe that politics in the long run is about individuals. It is about ideas, the public good and doing what is best for the state of New York. But I have disappointed and failed

to live up to the standard that I expect of myself.

"I must now dedicate

some time to regain the trust of my family. I will

not be taking questions. Thank you very much.

I will report back to you

in short order."

EndText

Age: 48; born

June 10, 1959, in

New York City.

Family: Married to Silda Wall Spitzer, a lawyer in the nonprofit sector; three daughters, ages 17, 14 and 12.

Education: Princeton University, 1981; Harvard Law School, 1984.

Experience: Governor of New York, since 2007; state attorney general, 1999-2006; private law practice, 1992-98; chief of labor racketeering unit of the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, 1991-92; assistant district attorney in Manhattan, 1986-92; private law practice, 1985-86; law clerk for U.S. District Judge Robert Sweet, 1984-85.

Record as governor: Spitzer was elected

with a historic 69 percent of the vote. His hard-charging ways put him at odds with the powerful Republican State Senate leader, Joseph Bruno; his agenda stalled amid political scandal and polls showing most New Yorkers would not vote for him again. Two aides were disciplined for using the state police to track Bruno's movements.

Spitzer has been able to push through moderate changes on the budget, ethics and on workers' compensation, but one of his signature efforts, campaign finance, has languished.

- Associated PressEndText