Spitzer Background, Timeline
I am not a lawyer, but the timeline of this event -- from recognition to indictment disclosure -- seems unusually accelerated. [There is no indictment because there has been no grand jury investigation. See more at Talk Left.]
There were 10 clients identified by number in the affidavit; will the other nine names also be leaked? Comments?
Moreover, as Scott Horton notes at Harpers (tip):
...this prosecution was managed with staffers from the Public Integrity Section at the Department of Justice. This section is now at the center of a major scandal concerning politically directed prosecutions. During the Bush Administration, his Justice Department has opened 5.6 cases against Democrats for every one involving a Republican...Read on to review the timeline:
All of these facts are consistent with a process which is not the investigation of a crime, but rather an attempt to target and build a case against an individual.
- 2003 - As Attorney General, Spitzer "brought suit against a Queens company suspected of planning sex tourism trips to Asia... 'The company purports to be a traditional travel agency, but through its actions promotes prostitution and the abuse of young women,' Spitzer said."
- 2006 - Former prostitute cooperates with federal agents
- January 2007 - Spitzer inauguration as governor.
- July 2007 - North Fork Bank sends Suspicious Activity Report to Treasury (cite)
- Fall 2007 - Another bank sends Suspicious Activity Report to Treasury concerning wire transfers that appear related to pornography (cite)
- September 2007 - Albany County district attorney clears Spitzer and aides of any illegal conduct in an investigation of Sen. Majority Leader Bruno’s use of state helicopters and state police cars. (tip)
- October 2007 - State Republican leaders subpoena two of Spitzer's aides, despite DA decision that there was no wrong-doing in the investigation of Bruno's travel. (tip)
- October 2007 - Homeland Security Chief Chertoff complains about Spitzer proposal to provide driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants. (tip)
- October 2007 - Investigation into prostitution ring and suspicious wire transfers begins
- 08 January 2008 - Investigators obtain wiretap authorization
- 25 January 2008 - Investigation obtains search warrant for emails
- 07 February 2008 - Authorization for wiretaps expires
- 11 February 2008 - Wiretaps renewed
- 13 February 2008 - Client 9, believed to be Spitzer, arranges for prostitute to visit him in DC
- 6 March 2008 - four people charged with operating a prostitution ring and laundering money; charge is by complaint, not indictment
- 7 March 2008 - NYT asks Spitzer about his involvement; also, a federal official reportedly contacts his office
- 9 & 10 March 2008 - Spitzer notifies aides of his involvement
- 10 March 2008 - Spitzer publicly acknowledges involvement, apologizes
- 12 March 2008 - Spitzer announces resignation, effective Monday 17 March
New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D) still has not been charged with a crime, but media reports suggest he is at risk because of the manner in which he paid for prostitutes -- not for engaging a prostitute, per se.
By making payments in such as way as to disguise their purpose, he may have run afoul of the law on "structuring." The prohibition on structuring is designed to thwart drug deals or bribes; see the statute and the regulations.
Related:
NY Governor Latest Politico In Sex Scandal
Sex & Politics In America
Comments
Poor poor Scott Horton.LOL Waaaaa Waaaaa. What a boob! Does it occur to you lefties that Spitzer was commiting a crime? Where did the funds come from? We don’t know yet but I’ll bet the money didn’t come out of the Spitzer family checking account.
C
Here’s a good discussion of Horton’s writing on the subject:
http://proteinwisdom.com/wp-trackback.php?p=11423
Word is Spitzer was going after LARRY SILVERSTEIN, a BUSH cohort who bought WTC just before 911, and profited hugely from its DESTRUCTION and Spitzer was goin’ after the CARLYLE GROUP, and goin’ after WALL STREET, and was after BEAR STEARNS and lo and behold, the whole bunch of em all crash down on the same day. IF I WORKED ON WALL STREET? I would NEVER use the word BEAR in the NAME OF my FIRM! No wonder it was first Wall Street firm to bite the dust. BEAR MARKET means heading toward a DEPRESSION. Back to subject: I hear Spitzer was going after Bear Stearns,(BS ANOTHER set of initials I wouldn’t use on wall street) For this reason he became an ENEMY OF THE STATE & Bush/ Carlyle SET HIM UP …..see:
http://www.masterjules.net/spitzercide.htm
and http://www.masterjules.net/enronwebpage.htm
Chuck, the man is worth millions. Why wouldn’t the money have been coming from his own bank account?
Gill,
Because his wife would have access to that info? Sheesh. I suppose you think he just wired funds out of the family checking account to a brothel? His wife didn’t look dumb to me. Anyway, time will tell where this money came from?
I love it that his replacement immediately confessed to being an adulterer. LOL
Watching the Dems literally blowing up has to be one of the best treats of this year.
C
Hi, Chuck - you’re making assumptions about their marital relationship that you are not in a position to make. Not everyone has joint accounts — particularly the super-rich (yes, I have friends in that category).
Second, Dems do not have a monopoly on sexual escapades. Why do you suppose David Vitter hasn’t blown up? Do you think Rudy’s martial relationships (three marriages?) contributed to his poor connection with GOP voters?
Like most liberals you’re very adept at creating red herrings. Look at my original post? I said I bet the money did not come out of the family checking account and I stand by that statement. And, I’m in a position to make any kind of assumption I want. By definition an assumption is simply an opinion.
Where the money came from may be the big scandal in this.
Spin and deflection by bringing up sexual trists by others doesn’t work with me Ms. Gill. I will be very surprised if Spitzer wasn’t dipping into state funds to finance his sexual addiction.
C
Hi, Chuck:
If he used public money, then he should “pay.”
However, there has been nothing reported that suggests this. The focus seems to have been on money out of, not money into, his accounts. If it were state money, it would have first had to make its way into his accounts.
Kathy