“Mr. Clean” caught in a dirty scandal

Eliot Spitzer, Governor of New York, held a press conference on Monday, March 10^th after being accused of paying for a tryst with a high-priced call girl from an international prostitution ring, the Emperor’s Club VIP.

With his shell-shocked wife by his side, Governor Spitzer made a brief statement. “I have acted in a way that violates my obligations to my family and violates my, or any sense of right and wrong,” clearly showing signs of tightness in his lips, indicating anger, disgust and sadness.

“I apologize first and most importantly, to my family. I apologize to the public, who I promised better.  I do not believe politics in the long run is about individuals. It’s about ideas, the public good and doing what is best for the people of New York. But I’ve disappointed and failed to live up to the standard I set for myself.”

The scandal centers around his stay at the Mayflower Hotel on February 13^th, the same night court records show client #9 met with a prostitute at a Washington D.C. Hotel. The investigation began last summer, when a financial institution tipped of the IRS to unusual money movement. The IRS then contacted the FBI, who launched an investigation and began the wire tap. Law enforcement identified “Client #9” as Spitzer and the call girl as “Kristen” and called it far from a one shot deal. Client #9 had paid $4,300 in cash, some to be used as a down payment for future meetings.

He concluded by saying “I must now dedicate some time to regain the trust of my family.”  He told the press he would take no questions, thanked them, and said he would “report back in short order”. Immediately after his closing remarks, his lips clenched very tightly in anger, he turned toward his wife and they walked off out of the room.

The next day, Tuesday, March 11, Eliot Spitzer is considering his resignation as Governor of New York.

UPDATE: On March 12th, Spitzer announced his resignation from office, Citing Personal Failings

“I am deeply sorry that I did not live up to what was expected of me.  To every New Yorker, and to all those who believed in what I tried to stand for, I sincerely apologize.”

“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,” he added. “I can and will ask no less of myself. For this reason, I am resigning from the office of governor.”

BEN BERNANKE

On Thursday, February 28, 2008, Ben Bernanke, Federal Reserve Chief, testified before Congress, predicting the economy will pull through tough times without a recession. “I do very much believe that the U.S. economy will return to a strong growth path with price stability,” Bernanke told the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. Although optimistic and positive there will be no recession, there were tell-tale signs that his face expressed signs to the contrary.

When Mr. Bernanke says “we expect moderate growth going forward and we believe that if the housing sector begins to stabilize” he showed a slight sign of disgust and anger.

There were slight signs of sadness and annoyance when Mr. Bernanke said “there could be some strengthening of the economy mid-year”.