NY Governor Forced to Resign

By Pamela Mortimer

The New York General Assembly expects to receive the resignation from NY Governor Eliot Spitzer Monday night. Reports state Spitzer is supposedly referred to as "Client 9" in a federal case against an alleged high-dollar prostitution ring, known by the moniker "Emperors Club VIP". According to law enforcement, Spitzer was named in court papers after being taped making arrangements with a prostitute.

According to the affidavit signed by FBI agent Kenneth Hosey, the Emperors Club is a high-priced agency comprised of diva prostitutes. The complaint details how one prospective "employee" refused to work for the Club because the pay wasn’t high enough. Plus, a friend of hers had complained about having sex twice in an hour…without getting any dinner beforehand.

The club's website also shows how choosy the employees can be when it comes to selecting clients. The site posts a fee schedule of $1,000 per hour for a "three-diamond prostitute" and $3,100 per hour for a "seven-diamond prostitute". Members of the exclusive Icon Club may arrange a "date" with prostitutes whose fees start at $5,500 per hour.

Although Spitzer made an appearance before reporters Monday, he did not mention his impending resignation. He did, however, apologize to his family. In attendance at the press conference was Spitzer’s wife. The couple has three daughters.

"Over 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," Spitzer said.

"Today, I want to briefly address a private matter. I have acted in a way that violates my obligation 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, who I promised better.

"I do not believe that politics in the long run is about individuals, it is about ideas for the public good and doing what is best for the state of New York. But I am disappointed and failed to live up to the standard I expected 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. Thank you very much," Spitzer said.

Spitzer had served two terms as attorney general where he pursued criminal and civil cases and cracked down on misconduct and conflicts of interests on Wall Street and in corporate America. He had previously been a prosecutor in the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, handling organized crime and white-collar crime cases.