NEW YORK - New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who swept to office as a no-nonsense crimebuster known as the “sheriff of Wall Street, apologized to his family and the public Monday after being linked in news reports to a prostitution ring.
“I have acted in a way that violates my obligations to my family ... [and] my sense of right and wrong,” Spitzer said in a brief statement he read to reporters at his Manhattan office. “I must now dedicate some time to regain the trust of my family.”
Spitzer, with his wife, Silda, looking on, did not specifically refer to reports earlier Monday that he had been discussed on a federal wiretap as having arranged to meet with a prostitute last month in Washington.
Jonathan Dienst, an investigative reporter for NBC affiliate WNBC in New York, and Robert Windrem, an investigative producer for NBC News, reported Monday afternoon that Spitzer was discussed on a Feb. 13 wiretap in which members of the alleged prostitution ring said he had sought the services of a woman named “Kristen.”
Law enforcement officials said Spitzer was identified as Client 9 in the records. Spitzer was in Washington on Feb. 13 to meet with congressional officials.
Last week, federal prosecutors in Manhattan filed conspiracy charges against four people, accusing them of running the prostitution ring, which authorities said charged wealthy clients in Europe and the United States for prostitutes.
Spitzer learned that he had been implicated when a federal official contacted his staff on Friday, a person briefed on the case told The New York Times.
Spitzer called the issue “a private matter” in his comments Monday. He gave no details but said his conduct “violates my, or any, sense of right and wrong.”
Spitzer also did not address reports that he was expected to resign, but he promised to expand on his comments later. Were Spitzer to step down, Lt. Gov. David A. Paterson, a fellow Democrat, would become governor.
GOP leader calls for resignation
Spitzer, 48, who has three daughters, met with his senior aides Monday afternoon after canceling his scheduled events for the day.
James Tedisco, Republican leader of the State Assembly, said Spitzer “has disgraced his office and the entire state of New York. He should resign his office immediately.”
Spitzer built his political legacy on rooting out corruption, including several headline-making battles with Wall Street while serving as state 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.
Spitzer's apology
Below is the statement delivered by N.Y. Gov. Eliot Spitzer:
"Good afternoon.
"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 violates my obligations to my family and 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 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."
Time magazine had named him “Crusader of the Year” when he was attorney general, and the tabloids proclaimed him “Eliot Ness.”
His cases as attorney general included criminal prosecutions of prostitution rings and tourism involving prostitutes. In 2004, he was part of an investigation of an escort service in New York City that resulted in the arrests of 18 people on charges of promoting prostitution and related charges.
MSNBC’s Dan Abrams, a lawyer who is NBC News’ legal affairs correspondent, said that even if he were involved in the prostitution ring, Spitzer might escape prosecution because, in general, cases are rarely brought against customers of prostitutes.
But political analysts of both parties said Spitzer’s carefully constructed reputation as a moralizing crime fighter would make it difficult for him to remain in office or in politics.
2½-hour meeting with prostitute alleged
In an affidavit obtained by NBC News, the FBI said the prostitute named Kristen was sent to Room 871 in an unidentified hotel where Client 9 was staying.
Client 9 asked to be reminded of what Kristen looked like and was told that she was an “American, petite, very pretty brunette, five feet five inches, and 105 pounds.”
The meeting apparently lasted from 9:36 p.m. ET, when Kristen arrived, until 12:02 a.m..
Kristen collected $4,300 from Client 9, according to the FBI affidavit. She said that the appointment went “very well” and that “she liked him and did not think he was difficult.”
The Web site of the Emperors Club VIP displays photographs of scantily clad women 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. The most highly ranked prostitutes cost $5,500 an hour, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said the defendants arranged connections between wealthy men and more than 50 prostitutes in New York, Washington, Los Angeles, Miami, London and Paris.
The case is being handled by prosecutors in the public corruption unit of U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia’s office. A spokeswoman for Garcia said the office had no comment.