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Last update - 18:58 12/03/2008 New York Governor Eliot Spitzer resigns amid sex scandal By News Agencies Tags: sex scandal, u.s., New York  New York Governor Eliot Spitzer resigned in disgrace Wednesday after getting caught in a prostitution scandal that shattered his corruption-fighting, straight-arrow image. Spitzer will be replaced by Lieutenant Governor David Patterson, who becomes New York's first black governor, effective Monday. Spitzer's minute-long statement made no mention of whether he had reached a deal with federal prosecutors to avoid charges. "I cannot allow my private failings to disrupt the people's work," Spitzer said at a Manhattan news conference with his wife, Silda at his side. "I go forward with the belief, as others have said, that as human beings our greatest glory consists not in never falling but in rising every time we fall." Advertisement He left without answering questions. The scandal erupted Monday when allegations surfaced that the 48-year-old Spitzer spent thousands of dollars on a call girl at a swanky Washington D.C. hotel on the night before Valentine's Day. Spitzer was more composed than he was earlier in the week, when he apologized for an undisclosed personal failing and looked pale, drawn and glassy-eyed. His wife took deep breaths as hundreds of photos were taken at close range. Each of Spitzer's words was accompanied by a rush of camera clicks. Spitzer's resignation came after many calls were made for him to resign. Bloggers, commentators and comedians weighed in on the prostitution scandal and New Yorkers were also getting a shot and their view was clear: He should resign or be removed from office. A poll released late Tuesday found that 70 percent of New Yorkers believed that Spitzer should resign, while 66 percent felt he should be impeached and removed from office if he does not. State Republicans threatened to impeach the Democratic governor if he did not quit over the scandal that raises the possibility of criminal charges and the end of the political career of a man once considered a rising star in his party. Unidentified aides told The New York Times Tuesday that Spitzer's wife, Silda Spitzer, was urging him not to step down. Public opinion was heavily in favor of the governor leaving office, according to a WNBC/Marist poll that found 70 percent of registered New York voters wanted Spitzer to quit. "It's a big thumbs-down from New York voters," said Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion in Poughkeepsie, New York. "He's in a politically untenable position as far as public opinion is concerned." Although clients of prostitutes typically are not charged with crimes under state laws, the Spitzer case is in the hands of federal authorities. He could face charges with structuring, which entails payments of money made in such a way as to conceal their purpose and source. The scandal erupted after The New York Times said Spitzer hired a $1,000-an-hour prostitute and was caught on a federal wiretap arranging to meet her at a Washington hotel. Spitzer apologized on Monday for what he called a "private matter." He said nothing about resigning nor did he confirm or deny the report. He retreated to his Manhattan apartment building and has not appeared in public since. Spitzer was elected with nearly 70 percent of the vote in 2006 following a stint as state attorney general, when his high-profile financial probes attracted publicity but also resentment on Wall Street. New Yorkers were split on what should happen to Spitzer, with roughly half saying he should face criminal charges and half saying he should not, the WNBC/Marist poll said. If Spitzer does not resign, 66 percent said the state Legislature should impeach him, the poll said. On Tuesday, James Tedisco, head of the Republicans in the state Assembly, said if Spitzer did not resign in 24 to 48 hours, they would prepare articles of impeachment. At the heart of the scandal is a criminal complaint unveiled last week charging four people with running a prostitution ring dubbed The Emperors Club. Spitzer was identified as Client 9 in court papers in that case, according to the Times. Client 9 arranged to meet with "Kristen," a prostitute who charged $1,000 an hour, on Feb. 13 in a Washington hotel and paid her $4,300, the papers said. Unidentified sources told New York's Newsday that Spitzer had as many as seven or eight liaisons over the past several years with prostitutes supplied by an international call girl ring based in New Jersey. For each encounter, Spitzer paid several thousand dollars, the sources told the newspaper. The Times, citing unidentified law enforcement officials, reported the investigation began last year during an Internal Revenue Service review of suspicious financial transactions as reported by banks. The prostitution ring was allegedly led by a man found with an Israeli passport at his home. Related articles: N.Y. Gov. Spitzer in sex scandal; pimp said to hold Israel passport Bookmark to del.icio.us   My son, the martyr Mother of J'lem attack victim backs 'political use' of son's murder. Keeping the faith Inter-faith couples married in a Jewish ceremony are likely to raise their kids Jewish.   1.   On excellence 10:30  |  Clickfool 12/03/08   2.   Gov. Spitzer 10:33  |  Esther 12/03/08   3.   My taxes supporting clickfool 12:44  |  Rabbi Stephen Moller 12/03/08   4.   Dear Rabbi 13:04  |  Clickfool 12/03/08   5.   Magnus Frater Spectat Te 13:34  |  Mark Lincoln 12/03/08   6.   At least learn to spell, Fake Clickfool # 4 13:38  |  Clickfool 12/03/08   7.   Uh, oh. Hope my wife doesn`t find out! 18:16  |  client 8 12/03/08   8.   Spitzer, Ramon & Katsav. 18:26  |  curious 12/03/08   9.   Fake Clickfool here 19:12  |  Clickfool 12/03/08   10.   8 Curious- A further note on `K`nesset `K`orruption- 20:36  |  political justice 12/03/08   11.   There`s More Here, Much More..... 21:15  |  Dovy 12/03/08   12.   Olmert could have taught him a few things 22:30  |  fred 12/03/08   13.   12 Yes Fred. Olmert did teach Spitzer a few things... 22:47  |  bat yam 12/03/08   14.   Dovy is Naturei Karta 22:59  |  Jane 12/03/08   15.   Aren`t rabbis supposed to be well educated? 23:48  |  hollingsworth 12/03/08   16.   Dovy 23:49  |  ballistic 12/03/08   17.   Clickfool 23:50  |  H 12/03/08   18.   Explain. 00:18  |  Eric WIlson 13/03/08   19.   client 8 # 7 It Makes One Wonder 00:19  |  Jeff Northridge 13/03/08   20.   # 3, Rabbi Stephen Moller 01:43  |  A Jew 13/03/08   21.   NYT has pictures of 22 yo "escort" 01:58  |  Aphemia 13/03/08   22.   stunning on many levels 03:20  |  Harry 13/03/08   23.   Watch out 03:51  |  K 13/03/08   24.   Actually, Spitzer is not so dumb 04:09  |  Murray of Montreal 13/03/08   25.   Anti-Semetism....get over it 04:25  |  Ghassan 13/03/08   26.   Hey Folks _ This Is Nobody`s Business Except Spitzer And 06:39  |  Eli 13/03/08   27.   Go For It Spitzer _ If You can`t Get it At Home Get It In 06:46  |  Eli 13/03/08   28.   populate 06:56  |  hershel 13/03/08   29.   Has anyone else noticed... 21:49  |  Veritas 13/03/08   30.   I Spit on Spitzer 23:06  |  Yechiel 14/03/08

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