New York Gov. Spitzer Quits amid Prostitution Scandal

NEW YORK — A disgraced Eliot Spitzer resigned as New York's governor Wednesday in a stunning political collapse that followed allegations he paid tens of thousands of dollars for call girls as a client of a high-end prostitution ring.

Spitzer, the former New York attorney general who built his career as a corruption fighter and moral crusader, said his resignation will be effective Monday, to allow time for the little-known Lt. Gov. David Paterson to prepare to take over.

Paterson will become New York's first African-American governor and the nation's first legally blind governor. Voters overwhelmingly elected the two Democrats 16 months ago.

Even with his resignation, Spitzer's future remains uncertain as authorities investigate alleged misdeeds, including financial steps taken to conceal prostitution payments. A federal prosecutor in New York said there is no deal in place related to Spitzer's stepping down.

Announcing his resignation, Spitzer apologized for failing his family and the people of his state. His wife, Silda, stood silently by his side, her face stoic as she watched him read brief remarks. He answered no questions.

"I am deeply sorry that I did not live up to what was expected of me," he said at his Manhattan office. "I look at my time as governor with a sense of what might have been."

"Over the course of my public life, I have insisted — I believe correctly — that people, regardless of their position or power, take responsibility for their conduct," Spitzer said. "I can and will ask no less of myself. For this reason, I am resigning from the office of governor."

Paterson later issued a statement expressing sadness over the situation and saying New York's government must "get back to work as the people of this state expect from us."

Calls for Spitzer's resignation and a Republican threat to impeach him came quickly after the scandal erupted on Monday.

Allegations arose that Spitzer, 48 and a father of three daughters, had spent thousands of dollars for a night with a prostitute named "Kristen" from the Emperor's Club V.I.P. call-girl service at a Washington hotel last month.

The New York Times identified her late Wednesday as Ashley Rae Maika DiPietro, now known as Ashley Alexandra Dupre. The 22-year-old New Jersey native has not been charged but has been subpoenaed to testify in the case.

Authorities began investigating after being alerted to suspicious bank transfers, which were traced back to Spitzer, according to published reports. Officials said that Spitzer, identified as "Client 9," had been caught on a wiretap arranging the encounter.

Some of the meetings with prostitutes occurred in Dallas and in Florida, as well as in Washington, the New York Times reported, citing unidentified sources familiar with the investigation.

Spitzer's alleged involvement with the call-girl service goes back months and involves several encounters and payments of tens of thousands of dollars, the reports said.

As the son of Bernard Spitzer, who made a fortune in Manhattan real estate and is reportedly worth at least $500 million, Spitzer has wealth far beyond his $179,000 salary as governor.

In 2006, Spitzer and his wife reported earning nearly $2 million, most of it from commercial rental properties owned by his family. That year, his family bought a 160-acre property south of Albany, including a guest house they had rented for about a dozen years. The price tag: $4 million.

In 1998, the family money helped Spitzer's campaign to become New York's attorney general win by a slender margin.

In that role, Spitzer was dubbed the "Sheriff of Wall Street" for defending small investors and outpacing federal regulators in rooting out corruption. Time magazine named him "Crusader of the Year" in 2002. He was mentioned as a potential presidential candidate.

Spitzer went after wrongdoing by investment bankers, polluting power plants, and misdeeds in the mutual fund and insurance industries. He also prosecuted prostitution.

His critics and some targets of his investigations accused him of meddling in national affairs and seeking publicity to support political ambition.

Coming into office as governor with broad support and pledges to clean up the state government in Albany, Spitzer quickly faced many problems. His plan to give driver's licenses to illegal immigrants was unpopular and caused a political backlash.

Spitzer is the first New York governor to be forced from office since 1913, when William Sulzer was impeached and removed over a scandal involving campaign contributions.

Spitzer said he has spent the last few days atoning for his failings with his wife and children. He said he would now leave public life.

"I will first do what I need to do to help and heal myself and my family," he said. "Then I will try once again, outside of politics, to serve the common good and to move toward the ideals and solutions which I believe can build a future of hope and opportunity for us and for our children."