N.Y. governor's journey toward resignation

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Source: MSNBC

Spitzer's secrets began to unravel last year when banks tipped Internal Revenue Service agents to something strange going on with his accounts, authorities said. His money transfers were setting off all sorts of red flags.

The case was referred last fall to federal prosecutors, who came to believe that Spitzer may have spent tens of thousands of dollars transferring money between accounts to pay for prostitutes, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case.

The first public hint of Spitzer's downfall was dropped in a federal court in Manhattan on March 6. Four people were charged with running a prostitution and money-laundering ring called Emperors Club VIP.

It was clear this was more than a run-of-the-mill prostitution bust. The prosecutors assigned to the case were headed by the U.S. attorney's public corruption unit, which generally looks at cases involving elected officials. None of the prostitution ring's clients was named, but the 47-page document detailed dealings with 10 of them — identified only as Clients 1 through 10.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23651071/

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New York State Gov. Eliot Spitzer makes a statement to reporters during a news conference in this Monday, March 10, 2008, file photo in New York where he apologized to his family and the public after a report that he was involved in a prostitution ring.

[mdmc]

1. I was never a fan of his, but I am shocked on how this went down

and I often wonder how many other people knew about what he was doing.
Spitzer and the callgirl knew.
Did Chief of Staff Richie Baum know?
Did the rest of his inner circle know?
Did his wife? Was their marriage a sham?

For the record, I think HRC always knew that the Bigdog was a pimp. I wonder how many political marriages are shams.

[madaboutharry]

2. The only two people who know what is going on in

a marriage are the two people in it. That is a saying that has been around forever and I think it is true. What Mrs. Spitzer knew or didn't know really depends on how whether her husband was a good actor. God only knows how you keep a decade of this behavior a secret. Maybe she thought there were other women and she looked the other way. I doubt the word "hookers" was what she was thinking.

[mdmc]

3. But a State AG (or Gov) never goes anywhere without an entourage

So you think no one else knew? None of his top advisers?

[madaboutharry]

4. I do think someone knew.

I am just not so sure it was his wife. I would think someone close in the inner circle had figured it out.

[mdmc]

5. surreal

sad

odd...

thanks for your replys...

[msongs]

6. he shoulda gone on craigslist nt

[troubleinwinter]

7. Dole

U.S. politicians also are sometimes considered PEPs. In 2004, Riggs filed suspicious-activity reports flagging Sen. Bob Dole's regular withdrawals of as much as $8,000 in cash from his account. No wrongdoing was alleged. Mr. Dole's staff estimated he withdrew roughly $12,000 a month in cash from Riggs until the practice became known. In a 2004 interview, the former Republican presidential candidate said he simply prefers using cash and sometimes gives money away. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120523741167127071.html

Bob Dole "gives money away" in cash at the rate of $12,000 a month. No concern there about bribery, corruption or prostitution. Bob Dole also took his cash in amounts less than the $10,000 individual withdrawal that would trigger a report, broke it up into lesser amounts. Bob seems to have been smart enough to only use CASH for his $12,000 per month "giving money away" transactions.

[How to be positive]

8. how weird Bob Dole?

you never know (exhale)...