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Spitzer Expected to Resign; State GOP Will Seek Impeachment If He Doesn't
By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 11, 2008
Modified Mar 11, 2008
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By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 11, 2008
Modified Mar 11, 2008
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Governor Eliot Spitzer is expected to resign, according to top aides who spoke to the NY Times. It's unclear when the resignation will happen, but Lieutenant David Paterson is working on a transition.
The State GOP is threatening to impeach Spitzer if he doesn't step down in 48 hours. A spokesman for Republican minority leader James Tedisco said, "The governor has 48 hours to resign or articles of impeachment would be introduced.
There are many ridiculous things about Governor Spitzer's solicitation of "high-class" prostitutes (using his own cell phone, his betrayal of his family, getting a hotel room in his friend's name but with his own address). But what the federal officials may nail him for - and what started the inquiry into the prostitution ring - were "suspicious money transfers" that feds initially thought were bribes but turned out to be payment to the prostitution ring. Forehead meet heel of hand!
A bank alerted the IRS, which then, after getting permission from the Justice Department, started to dig into Spitzer's finances with the FBI Public Corruption Squad. A Justice Department official said, "We had no interest at all in the prostitution ring until the thing with Spitzer led us to learn about it."
The investigators found that Spitzer was sending money to a variety of shell companies set up by the Emperor's Club VIP prostitution ring. Officials think that Spitzer will be charged with "structuring," which per ABC News, "involves creating a series of financial movements designed to obscure the true purpose of the payments." A former federal prosecutor told the Daily News, ""Who knew better than him that this money was going to further a criminal enterprise?"
And Spitzer's words in an interview two years ago may haunt him: "Never talk when you can nod, and never nod when you can wink, and never write an e-mail because it's death. You're giving prosecutors all the evidence we need."
Update: Newsday reports Spitzer had solicited call girls at least 7 times over the past several years. Besides the tryst in DC, there was also one in Florida (multi-state investigation!).
Photograph of Spitzer heading to his Fifth Avenue apartment by Louis Lanzano/AP
Tagged
david paterson
eliot spitzer
Governor Spitzer
hookergate
ny state gop
State GOP
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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