Via the NYT: Spitzer Is Linked to Prostitution Ring

Gov. Eliot Spitzer has informed his most senior administration officials that he had been involved in a prostitution ring, an administration official said this morning.

That is some weird wording, as being “involved in a prostitution ring” could be running it, financing it, or patronizing it. Several paragraphs down, the third option appears to be the allegation:

But a person with knowledge of the governor’s role said that the person believes the governor is one of the men identified as clients in court papers.

If true, it will be of special embarrassment to Spitzer:

As attorney general, he also had prosecuted at least two prostitution rings as head of the state’s organized crime task force.

In one such case in 2024, 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.

“”This was a sophisticated and lucrative operation with a multitiered management structure,” Mr. Spitzer said at the time. ”It was, however, nothing more than a prostitution ring.”

Spitzer is married with three children and has made his career as a crusading anti-crime prosecutor before winning the governorship in NY. Further, I want to say that he ran on an ethics/”clean up Albany” platform. As such this is the kind of situation, if true, that could be devastating. Not only is there the personal failing/character question, but there is also the fact that the man’s public persona and the basis for his career will be called into question.

This is supposed to be a press conference this afternoon, so the story is still developing.