http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eliot_Spitzer_prostitution_scandalClient–9Governor Spitzer, referred to as "Client–9" in an affidavit filed in US Federal Court,[3] arranged to meet at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington on February 13, 2008 with a prostitute named "Kristen" — an "American, petite, very pretty brunette, 5 feet 5 inches and 105 pounds" (165 cm, 47 kg). Allegedly this contact was made by telephone while Spitzer was in Niagara Falls, New York at a press conference at Shorty's Bar and Grill on Pine Avenue.[4] "Kristen" was later identified as the 22 year old Ashley Dupré.[5][6] She intended to travel from New York City for the planned tryst and Spitzer agreed in advance that he "would be paying for everything — train tickets, cab fare from the hotel and back, mini-bar or room service, travel time and hotel".[7] After the assignation on February 13, 2008, Spitzer paid her $4,300 in cash.[8] The payment included $1,100 as a deposit with the agency toward future services.[9]
Room 871 at the Mayflower Hotel was booked under the name George Fox, a pseudonym Spitzer had allegedly been using that was later revealed to be the name of his close friend, a hedge fund investor.[10][11] Reportedly, some of this information came to light from a federal wiretap.[12][13][14]
Spitzer had at least seven or eight liaisons with prostitutes from the agency over six months, and paid more than $15,000 for their services. Federal agents had him under surveillance twice in 2008.[15][16][17] According to published reports, investigators believe Spitzer paid up to $80,000 for prostitutes over a period of several years — first while he was attorney general, and later as governor.[18][19][20]
The investigation was purportedly initiated after North Fork Bank[21] reported suspicious transactions to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as required by the Bank Secrecy Act. According to Newsday, Spitzer wanted to transfer more than $10,000 to what turned out to be a front for the prostitution ring. However, he broke up the transactions into smaller slices due to federal law requiring the reporting of any transfer of $10,000 or more. When he tried to get his name taken off the wires, the bank refused, saying that the money had already been wired out and that it would be improper to do so in any case. The IRS's Criminal Investigation Division then started a probe, initially fearing that Spitzer was the victim of either extortion or identity theft.[22]
North Fork's report in July 2007 went largely unnoticed until HSBC in the fall filed a report that the transactions were going to QAT International and QAT Consulting Group, which were offshore shell companies operating as a front for the Emperors Club VIP.[23]
Later, the IRS contacted the FBI to investigate possible political corruption. The investigation led Federal authorities to link the money transfers to the Emperors Club.[24][25] Prosecutors charged the four people operating the escort service with violations of the Mann Act, a week prior to the revelations of Spitzer's involvement.[26]
On November 19, 2007, Republican operative Roger Stone sent a letter to the FBI saying that Spitzer "used the service of high-priced call girls" while in Florida. Stone provided detail saying that Spitzer wore calf-length black socks while performing the sex act.[27]
Spitzer announced on March 12 that he would resign his post as Governor effective March 17, amid threats of his impeachment by state lawmakers.[2]
"I cannot allow for my private failings to disrupt the people's work," Spitzer said at a news conference in New York City. "Over the course of my public life, I have insisted — I believe correctly — that people take responsibility for their conduct. I can and will ask no less of myself. For this reason, I am resigning from the office of governor."[18]
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"Kristen"
"I just don't want to be thought of as a monster," the 22-year-old Dupré,[42] an aspiring pop recording artist living in Manhattan, told the New York Times, "This has been a very difficult time. It's complicated."[6] Dupré was the subject of intense media coverage in the days after her role in the scandal became public. On March 15, the New York Post published an extensive photo shoot showing Dupré in provocative poses.[43] As of October 22, 2008 (2008 -10-22)[update], Dupré's profile on MySpace.com had received nearly 12 million page views.[44]
Dupré had reportedly been offered $1 million by Hustler to pose nude for the magazine, and has received unofficial offers from Penthouse, among others.[45] Afterwards, she agreed to pose for Playboy in the upcoming May 2010 issue.[46]
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