Another Northeast Governor In Hot Water as Spitzer Apologizes to Family, State of NY

First there was former Connecticut Governor John Rowland who resigned in July 2004 from office during a corruption investigation, and later spent 10 months in a federal prison camp after pleading guilty to accepting gifts and vacations from people doing business with the state. Then there was former New Jersey Jim McGreevey who left office in November 2004 three months after admitting that he had had an extramarital affair with a male employee. Now there is Governor Eliot Spitzer who apologized today to his family amid allegations of involvement in a prostitution ring.   
  
Mr. Spitzer, the married father-of-three, said he had acted in a way that violated his obligations to his family, and apologized to his family and the public, whom he said he should have served better. He made no reference to allegations published by "The New York Times", which said he had been involved with a high-priced prostitution service.   
  
"I have disappointed and failed to live up to the standard I expected of myself," the first-term governor told a packed press conference at his Manhattan office.   
  
"I must now dedicate some time to regain the trust of my family," he added, as his wife of two decades, Silda, stood by his side.   
  
He declined to answer questions as to whether he would resign but said he would report back "in short order".   
  
Last week, four people were arrested in connection with the alleged prostitution ring, the "New York Times" reported.   
  
As part of the investigation, a federal wire-tap on a Washington hotel last month had recorded Mr Spitzer allegedly arranging to meet a prostitute, the newspaper added.   
  
According to court papers, the investigation involves an exclusive prostitution ring called the Emperor's Club VIP, which operated in cities across the US, as well as in London and Paris. More than 50 prostitutes were employed by the ring, charging fees ranging from $1,000 to more than $5,500 an hour, prosecutors said last week.   
  
The Republican minority leader of the New York state assembly, James Tedisco, called for Mr Spitzer to resign "immediately".   
  
"Today's news that Eliot Spitzer was likely involved with a prostitution ring and his refusal to deny it leads to an inescapable conclusion: he has disgraced his office and the entire state of New York," Mr Tedisco said.   
  
The Republican Governors' Association also reacted quickly to the allegations, calling for Mr Spitzer to step down.   
  
"Eliot Spitzer campaigned on ethics reform; unfortunately the governor of New York has egregiously failed his constituents," said the group's executive director Nick Ayers.   
  
Mr. Spitzer served as New York State Attorney General before becoming Governor of New York in 2007. As attorney general, Spitzer took cases relating to corporate white collar crime, securities fraud, internet fraud and environmental protection. He most notably pursued cases against companies involved in computer chip price fixing, investment bank stock price inflation, the 2003 mutual fund scandal. He also sued Richard Grasso, the then-chairman of the New York Stock Exchange, who he claimed had violated his position after receiving an upwards of $140 million as a deferred compensation pay package.