I don't understand this statement. He didn't do anything wrong, just illegal? What am I missing? Isn't illegal, wrong?
How did enemies set him up? Did "they" open an account and deposit money and then make arrangements for the prostitute to meet him? Did they then make payments under his name to pay for these women he met? And, did someone "twist" his arm and make him meet these ladies in Room 871? We all know the answer. There are "no enemies" involved, only Spitzer himself.
Although he has not yet been charged with a crime, his lawyers will meet with federal prosecutors to discuss any possible legal exposure. Its not the prostitution, (for all of you falling on the side of its his personal business) but on how it was paid for. He specifically established an account to transfer money to the escort service. This was established to "conceal" their purpose and source. That could amount to a crime called structuring, which carries a penalty of up to five years in prison.
Here are some media quotes. Let's not lose sight of a few things.
1. He was a former district attorney.
2. He's an elected official.
3. He's married and he betrayed his wife and children.
One of the law enforcement officials said that several people running the prostitution ring knew Mr. Spitzer by the name of George Fox, though a few of the prostitutes came to realize he was the governor of New York. He creates a different name to protect himself, knowing what he's doing is morally incorrect.
Mr. Fox is a friend and a donor to Mr. Spitzer. Told that Room 871 (where he met his prostitute) at the Mayflower Hotel had been registered in Mr. Fox’s name with Mr. Spitzer’s Fifth Avenue address, Mr. Fox said, “That is the first I have heard of it. Until I speak to the governor further, I have no comment.” He is using a friend's name to check in the hotel! How would you like being drug into this national story by your "friend"!
Mr. Spitzer was elected in a landslide in 2006, capitalizing on his popularity he won as the “Sheriff of Wall Street” during eight years as attorney general. With a reputation for personal probity and independence, he pledged to bring higher ethical standards to the statehouse.
When he was attorney general, Mr. Spitzer’s signature issue was pursuing Wall Street misdeeds. But he also oversaw the prosecution of at least two prostitution rings by the state’s organized crime task force, which reports to the attorney general. In one such case in 2004, Mr. Spitzer spoke with revulsion and anger after announcing the arrest of 16 people for operating a high-end prostitution ring out of Staten Island.
The revelation about Emperor’s Club and the attendant disruption in Albany comes at a particularly bad time: The state faces a $4.4 billion deficit and is weeks away from its deadline to complete a new budget.
Good luck New York state. This reminds me of a parallel situation about a sitting President (no pun intended) and an intern. Instead of taking care of the USA and and Islamic terrorists (insert NY state deficit) the country/state now loses its focus because of his "personal behavior" that some of you think is none of our business, or more importantly, none of the business of the citizens in New York.