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Spitzer call girl identified
13/03/2008 09:20 - (SA)
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| This 2006 image from MySpace shows Ashley Alexandra Dupre, the woman identified as "Kristen" in the Eliot Spitzer call girl scandal (AP Photo) |
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New York - A sex scandal that erupted over New York governor Eliot Spitzer's involvement with high-priced prostitutes sizzled on Wednesday with his resignation and the release of the hooker's identity.
The petite brunette identified in federal court papers as "Kristen", a call girl for the big-bucks Emperors Club VIP prostitution ring, was revealed to be 22-year-old Ashley Alexandra Dupre from New Jersey, the New York Times reported.
Earlier in the day Spitzer, 48, marked a stunning fall from grace by announcing he would resign effective March 17 due to the revelations that he had arranged to meet the woman for sex on February 13 at a Washington hotel.
The outgoing governor, a Hillary Clinton ally once considered presidential material and known as "Mr. Clean" for taking down organised crime and tackling Wall Street corruption, said he had failed to live up to the standards expected of public officials.
Remorse
"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 told reporters, flanked by his wife.
"I can and will ask no less of myself. For his reason I am resigning from the office of governor," the governor said.
"I cannot allow my private failings to disrupt the people's work.... The remorse I feel will always be with me," he added.
Spitzer had faced a mounting threat of impeachment from Republicans in the state assembly, while New York newspapers had also called for him to stand down.
Spitzer could still face federal criminal charges and New York prosecutors pointedly denied they had made a deal with the former top public prosecutor, amid earlier reports he had agreed to quit in return for avoiding charges such as money laundering.
His resignation came as further details emerged of his use of prostitutes, with the New York Post saying he had spent up to $80 000 on call girls going back 10 years to his time as New York state attorney general.
Aspiring singer
The New York Times reported that the woman in the centre of the scandal was as aspiring singer who described herself as coming from a "broken home", having used drugs, been abused, and been "broke and homeless", according to a self-penned biography on her MySpace.com page.
"I just don't want to be thought of as a monster," Dupre, who was born Ashley Youmans, was quoted as telling the paper. "This has been a very difficult time. It is complicated."
Dupre, who has not been charged, declined to comment on her relationship with Spitzer, a father of three teenage daughters.
But the Times said she could be a witness in the case against the Emperors Club VIP, the prostitution racket at the centre of the scandal.
- AFP
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