UPDATE: Report that N.Y. Gov. Eliot Spitzer is linked to prostitution ring

The New York Times is reporting that New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who rode to national prominence as a reform-driven state attorney general, has been implicated in a prostitution ring. Spitzer is reportedly making a public statement this afternoon, and we'll update as it unfolds.

Spitzer has had a tough year as governor, including revelations that his staff might have improperly used state assets to spy on state Sen. Joseph L. Bruno, the senate majority leader who had become Spitzer's main political opponent in Albany.

Spitzer had been a rising national political star for the Democrats. But if this story plays out and he indeed was involved in a prostitution ring, you have to wonder how much longer that star will glitter. Or, for that matter, how long it will be before the word "former" is inserted before "Gov. Eliot Spitzer."

UPDATE: Spitzer played a tangential role in the narrative of the Democratic presidential nomination fight. It was he, you'll recall, who raised ...

... the possibility of granting driver's licenses to immigrants regardless of whether they were documented, which became a recurring topic in the early candidate debates. A strong political backlash led Spitzer to drop the plan.

But he has been most noted for taking on powerful interests, such as insurance companies.

UPDATE II: Spitzer's press announcement was short and sweet and devoid of details. Without specifying what he was talking about -- but the context was clear -- Spitzer apologized to his family. "I have acted in a way that violates my obligation to my family.... I must now dedicate my time to regain the trust of my family."

He also apologized "to the public, and I promise 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." Spitzer also said he "failed to live up to the standard I expected of myself." He took no questions.

-- Scott Martelle

Comments

[DFAL]

BWAHAHAHA! This is delicious! Here we have a former state attorney general--and a Democrat--implicated in a prostitution ring. How sweet. How poisonous to his political career. LOL!

There is no arguing that Spitzer did good things as Attorney General. However, he is as dirty of a politician as they get. Read up on the guy.

[Robert Valiquet]

The Democrats culture of entitlement is demonstrated
once again .Give driving permits to illegal immigrants,
Talk woman rights and participate in shocking vice
that demean women in the most vile way.Lets hope
justice is applied to the fullest extent.

[WHOLETRUTHY]

looks like eliot"ness"spitzer is really a paper lion

[Kyle S]

Uhmm DFAL, they're all crooked: Republicans and Democrats alike. Don't act like the Republicans are some paragons of virtue. At least the Dems cheat on their wives with women and not little boys and dudes in bathrooms.

[Rhonda - Chicago]

I wonder if this will affect Hillary...he did endorse her, after all. Hillary may be wishing she was dealing with Rezko ties, now instead of the fallout that will inevitably come from her close relationship with Spitzer.

(Maybe she'll renounce AND denounce his endorsement.)

[Comedy Blog]

Personally I salute the guy.

Whores ftw.

[Len]

Everything changes day one. RESIGN NOW ELIOT! RESIGN NOW AND SAVE US MONTHS OF IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS!!!!!

[Zeru Tige]

It is sad to hear the fall of a man, please ! lets not be judgemental on this case it can happen to everyone of us at any time so simply just pray for this kind stupidity.

Zeru
Denver Colorado

[HD]

Everybody thought Spitzer had integrity, really he is just a bully and a power monger. So much for finally having a decent governor in NY. And Im a democrat.

[Lisa Diletti]

Pity New Yorkers didn't choose Tommy Suozzi in the Democratic primary for Governor over Spitzer!!!

[Laurence Jortner]

Reagan said that the practitioners of the second oldest profession sometimes practice the first oldest profession. But I don't think he meant it as literally as Spitzer seems to have taken it. There's nothing left for Spitzer now but to run for Governor of Nevada.

[Question]

I don't see a problem here. The only thing wrong i see is he may be guilty of something he has locked people up for. Maybe he might be motivated to legalize prostitution now. if they just legalize it like it is in Nevada, this situation is revealed for the ridiculousness that it is. Investigating prostitution is a waste of our tax dollars, and police resources. and if we citizens have to re-prioritize our lives and deal with all the wire taps and privacy violations and being stripped down at airports,because of the war on terror, then maybe they can prioritize and stop chasing people who are pleasuring each other and chase people who are killing each other.

[David Starr]

I'm still in shock DFAL, but let's not forget the 15 plus republican congressmen who have resigned under a variety of sexually charged/money laundering scandals in the past 2 years. Either way Elliot can kiss any thought of a 2012 presidential run out the window. What a shame.

[michael gasper]

u people r goofy.what ever he did was personal and had nothing to do with his position as gov. this is a family thing .the man needs to get his family things straight. it has nothinig to do with his ability to govern. he's a good man and get over it .we see this all the time,so he's gettin' laid ! big deal! it has nothing to do with the way he does business, it has everthing to do with how he deals with his family,and that is none of our business! let's move on . this is not new to us. let the family deal with this, it's there business.

[RonNV]

Spitzer harassed the financial institutions like crazy and forced them to pay big fees. He is nothing but a big phony. There is legal prostitution in many counties here in Nevada...if this is what he watns. He has disgraced his family and that is sad.

[Matt D]

Spitzer's finally knocked off of is high horse.

The man that lead the witch hut to bring down the Greenbergs. Only to effect the livelihoods of the people left behind and the shareholders of the big three insurance companies. Solely for personal reasons. Gets his just reward. Personal humiliation, indictment and hopefully divorce.

This isn't about Dems or Repubs it's about egocentric and arrogant tyrants that pursue positions of power.

[MDgal]

It's such big news because he's a democrat - usually it's the republican slimebags who do this sort of thing. You know, the republicans who fight for 'family values'? Yeah, those guys.

[Fair and Balanced]

lets not forget all the pedophiles and gays in the "moral majority" who use their church pulpit to condemn many people for the same things people they are guilty of themselves.. Florida Congressman Mark Foley, Idaho Senator Larry Craig, and The Rev. Ted Haggard; advisor to GW Bush. I suspect you are just one of the circle-jerks Robert Valiquet.

[WhoCares]

Why does this have to be a Democrat vs. Republican issue? The likes of Duke Cunningham and Jack Abramoff didn't bring down Bush, nor should Spitzer's alleged involvement bring down the entire party. The pissing match between parties and ideologies is really getting pathetic. These playground antics are reminscient of my Dad can kick your Dad's ass. If he's guilty, he will go to jail. End of story. Quit trying to spin this into a party issue. There are scumbags on either side of the fence. That means you ROBERT VALIQUET.

[Don]

One democrat gets caught and the family value republicans are going crazy over it. lol

[Dave Gwinn]

DUMB-DUMB-DUMB !!! Just hand a knife to anyone in obviously a multi-person operation and get your throat cut whenever they get the whim.

'Wonder what political personalities for whom he provided entertainment??

[Jeff]

All he has to say is " I did not have sexual relations with that woman"..............

[Doug Terry]

Don't be so fast to judge the Governor of New York. First, there are no details about his actions: once? Twenty times? A hundred times? Is there a pattern, in other words.

Second, leaders are not promised to be saints. In Europe, the affair among men of his age is common and somewhat accepted. Would he be holding a news conference and facing condemnation of he had merely "cheated" on his wife? I think not.

His actions, if the reports are true, should not be excused, but neither should he been shouted out of office immediately.

[Mia]

Well, well...look at all the finger-pointing at the "Democrats." Can't anyone remember ALL of the perverts who are Republicans? Start with Bush's spiritual advisor, Ted Haggard who went to a male prostitute, was a MINISTER who preached the evils of homosexuality, and bought METH, and said he wasn't going to use it...pretty stupid too. Google the Republican perverts, and you will find child rapists, and more perverts than the Democrats. Now, I am not affiliated with either party, I am an Independent, but I get sick of the holier-than-thou right-wingers like the extremely evil Ann Coulter. Give me a break!!

[cynthia]

When the press asked Hillary about Obama being a Muslem, she got knocked for saying, "No he's not, as far as I know."
You can never say you know about someone 100% , and there is no way to answer a question like that any other way.
I wouldn't be gloating, YOU may wake up one day and find out something distrubing about the person you love and trust most in this world. Happens everyday.