Spitzer avoids prosecution for his dalliances

   Eliot Spitzer, who spent a lifetime in public office condemning wrongdoers, got lucky Thursday with the decision by federal prosecutors to not charge him with a crime for his role in a prostitution ring.

   The former governor, who thought one day he could become president, has been sweating since March that he would be charged for patronizing a prostitution ring. His allies -- and there are not many of those left -- say Spitzer, who was brought down from office by the scandal, already was punished, and is still being punished, for his sexual dalliances.

   Prosecutors were clear they found nothing illegal in how Spitzer paid for the services. There was no money laundering and no campaign funds were used.

   The public statement from the U.S. Attorney's office did not say why it did not use the Mann Act -- a law making it a crime to cross state borders to engage in acts of prostitution -- to go after Spitzer.

   Michael Garcia, the top federal prosecutor in the Justice Department's Southern District in New York City, said simply that the "public interest would not be further advanced" by charging Spitzer with a crime.

   Now what?

   Will Spitzer, who talked at the time of his March resignation of someday trying to get involved with some higher cause, return in any way to a visible public scene, such as through some charitable work? Or is he destined to use his law degree and credentials to keep working out of his wealthy father's real estate development company?

   -- Tom Precious

Comments

[Mark]

I don't understand the double standard, they used the Mann Act in WNY just recently to convict at least three, and he gets away with it. He was not convicted of anything so he keeps the law license as well.

[pgr88]

Did anyone expect this 100% Democratic state would ever go after Spitzer? Not a chance?

[RKT]

Look at things this way. He was stupid to do what he did and his reputation is mud. Anything "righteous" coming out of his mouth will be accompanied by hypocritical scorn. Let's hope he just goes away and leaves the voters who voted for him to remember the disappointment he left us with. Any body concerned with what's her name..Kristen??

[Observer]

As I keep on saying, he will not get punished because he is part of the legal system in NYS. I said it initially when this broke. If you get a chance see how the legal system punishes its own go to the NYS Unified Court Decisons section on line. If you are a lawyer and do wrong all you have to do is have lots of personal problems for which you now (now that you have been caught) are seeking and receiving help and if you have extreme remorse and then you only get a cute little slap on the wrist and are sent on your merry way. Meanwhile the persons who lawyers "violate" spend lots of personal time and energy and money trying to prove their case and then only find out that it is a waste of time to think any lawyer ever truly gets "punished" like the rest of society.

[Sweet]

The ol' boys club? Double standard, of course. The prostitues are prosecuted, but not the johns? And that would be why?

Yes, Mark, you are very right, but you forget that Spitzer is rich, soooooooooo... their Manhatten friends will turn a blind eye because that's their way of life.