Danny Hakim & William K. Rashbaum, "Spitzer, Linked to Sex Ring As a Client, Gives an Apology," in The New York Times, March 11, 2008, at p. A1.
William K. Rashbaum, "Revelations About the Governor Began in Routine Tax Inquiry," in The New York Times, March 11, 2008, at p. A1.
"ALBANY -- Gov. Eliot Spitzer was a client of a high end prostitution ring broken up last week by federal authorities, according to law enforcement officials, a development that threatened to end his career" -- which provides ample grounds for ethics charges for any attorney, leading to disbarment, which should make Deborah T. Poritz and others in Trenton very nervous -- "and turned the state's political world upside down."
I wonder how Diana is feeling the pressure these days? How's the "family-like" organization, Diana? How do you like Paramus? Close to the mall? Is your neighbor Joe Coniglio?
"Mr. Spitzer's involvement with the prostitution operation came last week, the officials said, as federal prosecutors charged four people with operating the service, Emperor's Club V.I.P. Mr. Spitzer was caught on a federal wiretap discussing payments and arranging to meet a prostitute in a Washington hotel room last month. The affidavit, which did not identify Mr. Spitzer by name, [the preferred pseudonym was "George Fox"] indicated that he had used the prostitution service before, although it was not clear how often."
Apparently, Mr. Spitzer had earned a $500.00 credit. Strangely, no green stamps were mentioned. This prostitution service was based in Cliffside Park, N.J. (no surprise!) and had global reach. N.J. is a "friendly jurisdiction" for this type of business and other shady or mob activity. Commercial sex should be legalized in order to get rid of the criminal element, as much as possible, to protect sex workers, while avoiding the disclosure of private, consensual adult behavior.
None of this behavior -- if freely-chosen by adults -- should be the government's business. The continuing hypocrisy about the reality of human sexual behavior drains law enforcement resources that might be better used to protect children who are forced into this "business" and to curtail illegal drug sales. I have never paid for nor have I (sadly) been paid for sex. No, I would not accept money for sex -- or I'd be in New Jersey's judiciary with the other whores.
With legalization, client lists would be subject to privacy laws. Sex workers could be granted a limited "privilege and confidentiality right," like other "professionals" in related industries -- such as attorneys and Hollywood agents, also psychotherapists and psychos who are therapists. Diana? Tuchin?
Mr. Spitzer's troubles began as a result of routine tax inquiries. That's what is known, prosaically, as "bullshit." The I.R.S. does not set up shop to investigate finances for a person and industry unless a little bird has told them something really intriguing. I suspect that this "little bird" came from New Jersey. Again, politicians in Trenton should be purchasing indictment insurance. A major prostitution service does not operate in New Jersey without taking care of the local "businesspeople" and allowing politicians or judges (both?) to "dip their wicks," as it were. Who wanted to get Spitzer? The mob? The same people who went after Bernard Kerik?
Investigators detected movement of thousands of dollars in Spitzer's cash. "The money ended up in the bank accounts of what appeared to be shell companies, corporations that essentially had no real business." Their real business is to launder money that comes back to politicians in the form of political contributions and suitcases filled with so-called "clean" cash. Mr. Spitzer made his name by crusading against questionable financial practices on Wall Street. I am sure that money laundering is highly questionable. Right, Senator Bob? ("Does Senator Menendez Have Mafia Friends?")
I know of several Hudson County attorneys who described counting $300,000 in cash at a closing for some gentlemen from foreign parts purchasing properties with a view of the city. I wondered whether they remembered to inform the IRS of this transaction. What the hell, huh?
$1,000 to $5,000 an hour for young women sounds like a lot of money, but they only keep a fraction of that cash and have lots of costs. Legalization would get rid of exploiters, allow prostitutes to deduct their expenses, give customers privacy rights as well as allowing sex workers to establish professional identities as "corporations" or "limited partnerships" (depending on the tax angles), retaining their own privacy. Most of all, legalization gives sex workers safety, respect, independence and generates fair taxes for government.
Destruction of someone's career and pain to family members are unnecessary side effects of what boils down to a consensual sexual act between a man and woman, where money was given by one person to another. Whatever we feel about such behavior -- I hope no person would ever wish to engage in such conduct, sex for money -- that decision belongs to what Kant called the "autonomous" realm. There are complications in Spitzer's case since he had sent people to prison for less reprehensible conduct and was the chief executive of the state at the time of this disclosure of his "pay-for-luv" habit.
You should not use people as "means" to your "ends." However, if one adult person chooses to be used for purposes of sexual gratification by another adult who chooses to spend money to obtain that gratification, despite the disapproval of others, then (I suppose) in a free society, the State should stay out of the matter as long as no one is hurt. Neither side of this pleasant exchange interests me. However, I will not judge my neighbors who disagree. Furthermore, I am sure that it is a tragic loss for New York to be deprived of a good governor because of this nonsense. It is also unfortunate for Mr. Spitzer to suffer personal career damage or destruction as a result of this lethal lapse in judgment and world-level display of hypocrisy. The sleaze aimed at Governor Patterson probably comes from the same people in New Jersey and not Mr. Cuomo.
This is the sort of unethical conduct we expect from New Jersey politicians, not New York's chief executive. Chris Christie may spoil my fun after he is sworn-in. Is it true that I will hear from you after you are Governor of New Jersey, Mr. Christie? I amstill waiting, Chris.
