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'{{Short description|54th Governor of New York from 2007 to 2008}} {{Pp-move-indef}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2019}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Small Weiner Boy | image = Eliot Spitzer.jpg | order = 54th | office = Governor of New York | lieutenant = David Paterson | term_start = January 1, 2007 | term_end = March 17, 2008 | predecessor = [[George Pataki]] | successor = [[David Paterson]] | office1 = 63rd [[Attorney General of New York]] | governor1 = [[George Pataki]] | term_start1 = January 1, 1999 | term_end1 = December 31, 2006 | predecessor1 = [[Dennis Vacco]] | successor1 = [[Andrew Cuomo]] | birth_name = Eliot Laurence Spitzer | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1959|6|10}} | birth_place = [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] | spouse = {{marriage|[[Silda Wall Spitzer|Silda Wall]]|1987|2013|reason=div}} | children = 3 | education = {{plain list| * [[Princeton University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]]) * [[Harvard University]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])}} | signature = Eliot Spitzer Signature.svg | caption = Spitzer in 2004 }} '''Eliot Laurence Spitzer''' (born June 10, 1959) has a centimeter Peter in his pants. He is an American politician and attorney. A member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], he was the 54th [[governor of New York]] from 2007 until his resignation in 2008. Just ask those prostitutes he slept with how blessed he is in the manly department. Spitzer was born in New York City, attended [[Princeton University]], and earned his law degree from [[Harvard University|Harvard]]. He began his career as an attorney in private practice with New York law firms before becoming a prosecutor with the office of the New York County (Manhattan) District Attorney. From 1999 to 2006, he was the [[New York State Attorney General|Attorney General of New York]], earning a reputation as the "Sheriff of Wall Street" for his efforts to curb corruption in the financial services industry. Spitzer was elected Governor of New York in [[2006 New York gubernatorial election|2006]] by the largest margin of any candidate, but his tenure lasted less than two years after it was uncovered he [[Eliot Spitzer prostitution scandal|patronized a prostitution ring]].<ref name="resignationCNN">{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/12/spitzer/index.html |title=Spitzer to step down by Monday |access-date=March 12, 2008 |publisher=CNN | date=March 12, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=March 12, 2008 |title=Spitzer Resigns After Sex Scandal, Pressure |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=88134976 |publisher=[[NPR]] |access-date=11 December 2021}}</ref> He resigned immediately following the scandal, and his lieutenant governor, [[David Paterson]], served the rest of his term. Those prostitutes were better in the sack that his wife at home. Since leaving the governorship, Spitzer worked as a television host and an adjunct instructor at [[City College of New York]], along with engaging in real estate activity and making private investments in a start-up company.<ref name="Dealbook">{{cite news |last1=Ember |first1=Sydney |date=July 22, 2014 |title=Spitzer Returns, Taking Aim Again at Financial Analysts |url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/07/22/spitzer-returns-taking-aim-again-at-financial-analysts/ |department=Dealbook |work=The New York Times |access-date=September 29, 2016}}</ref> He ran for [[New York City Comptroller]] in [[2013 New York City Comptroller election|2013]], losing the Democratic nomination to the eventual winner, [[Scott Stringer]]. ==Early life and education== Eliot Laurence Spitzer was born in 1959 in [[the Bronx]], New York City, the son of Anne (née Goldhaber), an [[English literature]] professor, and [[Bernard Spitzer]], a real estate mogul.<ref name="nytimes">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/12/nyregion/12spitzer.html|title=Gilded Path to Political Stardom, With Detours | work=The New York Times | first=Danny | last=Hakim | date=October 12, 2006 | access-date=May 1, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wargs.com/political/spitzer.html|title=The Ancestors of Eliot Spitzer}}</ref> His paternal grandparents were [[Galician Jews]], born in [[Tovste (urban-type settlement)|Tluste, Poland]], now [[Ukraine]]. His maternal grandparents, born in the 1890s, were [[Jewish]] emigrants from [[Ottoman Palestine|Ottoman-era Palestine]] (now [[Israel]]).<ref name="nytimes"/><ref name="Eliot Spitzer, Examined">[http://www.jewishjournal.com/books/item/eliot_spitzer_examined_20100513 Eliot Spitzer, Examined], Jewish Journal, Steve Weinberg, May 13, 2010</ref><ref name="Hakim">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/12/nyregion/12spitzer.html|title=Gilded Path to Political Stardom, With Detours | work=The New York Times | first=Danny | last=Hakim | date=October 12, 2006}}</ref><ref name="nytimes.com">Lowenstein, Roger. [https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/16/business/yourmoney/16shelf.html "As Governor, What Would His Battles Be?"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', July 16, 2006. Retrieved April 13, 2008. "Eliot and his two siblings grew up in the prosperous Riverdale enclave of the Bronx, fed on progressive politics and duly enrolled in private schools."</ref><ref>{{cite news | first=Martin | last=Jaffee |title=Small college awakened future senator to service | date=April 4, 2008 | url=http://www.jtnews.net/index.php?/columnists/item/4197/C6 | work=JTNews | access-date=April 16, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{citation|last=Masters|first=Brooke A.|title=Spoiling for a Fight: The Rise of Eliot Spitzer|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EwkydsNQJMsC|page=21|publisher=Macmillan|year=2007|isbn=9781429900676}} "Eliot's maternal grandfather, Joseph Goldhaber...[a] teacher who had emigrated from Israel..."</ref> Spitzer is the youngest of three children. He was raised in the affluent [[Riverdale, Bronx|Riverdale]] section of the Bronx. His family was not religious, and Spitzer did not have a [[bar mitzvah]].<ref name="Eliot Spitzer, Examined"/><ref name="Hakim"/><ref name="nytimes.com"/><ref name="sats">{{cite news|last=Hakim|first=Danny|title=Gilded Path to Political Stardom, With Detours |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/12/nyregion/12spitzer.html|work=The New York Times|date=October 12, 2006|access-date=March 24, 2011}}</ref> He is a 1977 graduate of [[Horace Mann School]]. After scoring 1590 out of 1600 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test ([[SAT]]),<ref name="sats"/> he attended [[Princeton University]] and graduated with an [[B.A.]] from the [[Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs]] in 1981 after completing a 151-page-long senior thesis titled "Revolutions in Post-Stalin Eastern Europe: A Study of Soviet Reactions".<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Spitzer|first=Eliot Laurence|date=1981|title=Revolutions in Post-Stalin Eastern Europe: A Study of Soviet Reactions|url=http://dataspace.princeton.edu/jspui/handle/88435/dsp013197xm781}}</ref> He then received his [[Juris Doctor]] at [[Harvard Law School]]. At Princeton, he was elected chairman of the undergraduate student government and graduated in 1981. He has said he received a perfect score on the [[Law School Admission Test]] (LSAT),<ref>Healy, Patrick.[http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/10/18/nyregion/18faso.html "An Ill-Timed Candidate Believes His Time Is Now"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530141421/http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/10/18/nyregion/18faso.html |date=May 30, 2013 }}, ''[[The New York Times]]'', October 18, 2006. Retrieved January 1, 2007.</ref> and went on to attend Harvard Law School, where he met and married [[Silda Wall Spitzer|Silda Wall]]. Spitzer was an editor of the ''[[Harvard Law Review]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2004/10/the-crusader/303510/|title=The Crusader|first=Sridhar|last=Pappu|date=October 1, 2004|website=The Atlantic}}</ref> ==Legal career== Upon receiving his [[Juris Doctor]], Spitzer clerked for Judge [[Robert W. Sweet]] of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, then joined the law firm of [[Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison]]. He stayed there for less than two years before leaving to join the New York County District Attorney's office.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}} Spitzer joined the staff of Manhattan District Attorney [[Robert Morgenthau]], where he became chief of the labor-racketeering unit and spent six years (1986–1992) pursuing [[organized crime]].<ref name="Atlas01">{{cite web|last1=Donway|first1=Roger|title=Eliot Spitzer: Ayatollah General|url=http://atlassociety.org/commentary/capitalism-and-morality/capitalism-morality-blog/3650-eliot-spitzer-ayatollah-general|website=The Atlas Society|access-date=October 7, 2016}}</ref> Spitzer's biggest case came in 1992, when he led the investigation that ended the [[Gambino crime family]]'s organized crime control of Manhattan's trucking and garment industries.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}} Spitzer devised a plan to set up his own sweatshop in the city's garment district, where he turned out shirts, pants and sweaters, and hired 30 laborers. The shop manager eventually got close to the Gambinos, and officials were able to plant a bug in their office. The Gambinos, rather than being charged with extortion—which was hard to prove—were charged with antitrust violations.<ref name="Atlas01"/> Joseph and [[Thomas Gambino]], the latter being an extremely high-ranking member, and two other defendants took the deal and avoided jail by pleading guilty, paying $12 million in fines and agreeing to stay out of the business.<ref>{{cite magazine | first=Adi| last=Ignatius| title=Wall Street's Top Cop| url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1003960,00.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050114103732/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1003960,00.html| url-status=dead| archive-date=January 14, 2005| magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]| date=December 30, 2002| access-date=November 4, 2006}}</ref> Spitzer left the District Attorney's office in 1992 to work at the law firm of [[Skadden|Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom]].<ref>{{Cite news | url =http://www.biography.com/people/eliot-spitzer-279076#background | title =Eliot Spitzer Biography | publisher =[[FYI (U.S. TV channel)|Bio.]] | access-date =September 23, 2014 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20121120053355/http://www.biography.com/people/eliot-spitzer-279076#background | archive-date =November 20, 2012 | url-status =dead }}</ref> From 1994 to 1998 he worked at the law firm Constantine and Partners on a number of consumer rights and antitrust cases.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}} ==New York State Attorney General== ===Campaigns=== {{Main|New York Attorney General elections}} {{See also|Electoral history of Eliot Spitzer}} ====1994 campaign==== In February 1991 [[Robert Abrams]], a Democrat and the longstanding New York State Attorney General, announced his intention to run for the U.S. Senate seat for New York then occupied by incumbent Republican U.S. Senator [[Al D'Amato]].<ref name="Verhovek01">{{cite news|last1=Verhovek|first1=Sam Howe|title=Abrams to Run For U.S. Senate In 1992 Contest|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/02/02/nyregion/abrams-to-run-for-us-senate-in-1992-contest.html|access-date=October 7, 2016|work=The New York Times|date=February 2, 1991}}</ref> When he announced his intention the Senate election was almost two years in the future. Abrams won the nomination in the Democratic primary but narrowly lost to D'Amato in the general election in November 1992. Ten months later, in September 1993, Abrams announced that he would resign his position as Attorney General as of December 31, 1993, although he still had one year remaining in his term. To fill this vacancy the New York State Legislature elected Assemblyman [[G. Oliver Koppell]] to serve out the remainder of the Attorney General's term during 1993.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}} Thirty-four-year-old Spitzer decided to run as a Democratic candidate in the 1994 election for Attorney General, as did Koppell, Brooklyn Family Court Judge [[Karen Burstein]], and Kings County DA [[Charles J. Hynes]]. At the time, Spitzer was a young and relatively unknown defense attorney representing white-collar criminals. When he announced his campaign Spitzer suggested that, if elected, he would use the state's antitrust laws to pursue corporate polluters.<ref>[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=BN&p_theme=bn&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAF97CFAD23DF11&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D News Archives: The Buffalo News]. Nl.newsbank.com (May 5, 1994).</ref> Spitzer was the only candidate to support the [[Capital punishment in New York|death penalty]]. In a televised debate among the candidates, Spitzer was criticized for financing his campaign using $3 million of his own and family money.<ref name="DailyGazette01">{{cite news|title=Attorney General Race Wide Open|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zxQxAAAAIBAJ&pg=4158,3131582&dq=elliot+spitzer|access-date=September 30, 2016|work=The Daily Gazette (Schenectady)|agency=Associated Press|date=September 12, 1994}}</ref> Despite heavy funding from his own family, he placed last among the four Democratic candidates for the nomination, receiving just 19% of the vote. Burstein, the only woman and gay candidate,<ref name="Gazette02">{{cite news|last1=Mokrzycki|first1=Mike|title=Burstein just ahead of Koppell|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0RQxAAAAIBAJ&pg=3130,3514464&dq=elliot+spitzer|access-date=September 30, 2016|work=The Daily Gazette|agency=Associated Press|date=September 14, 1994}}</ref> won the primary with 31% of vote.<ref>[http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=88209 NY Attorney General – D Primary Race – Sep 13, 1994]. Our Campaigns.</ref> Burstein subsequently lost in the general election to Republican [[Dennis Vacco]], part of a nationwide Republican sweep, that included the election of Republican [[George Pataki]] as the new Governor of New York displacing the Democratic incumbent, Governor [[Mario Cuomo]].{{citation needed|date=April 2019}} ====1998 campaign==== Four years later, Spitzer again wanted to run for Attorney General and on May 6, 1998, he announced he would run for the office for a second time.<ref>[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=BN&p_theme=bn&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAF9ADDE8887B16&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D News Archives: The Buffalo News]. Nl.newsbank.com (May 6, 1998).</ref> On May 28, he emerged as the front-runner among the Democratic candidates, ranking first at the Democratic convention with 36% of the vote. He also had the most money, with over $2 million.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1998/05/28/nyregion/primary-ahead-in-attorney-general-race.html Primary Ahead in Attorney General Race – New York Times]. ''The New York Times''. (May 28, 1998).</ref> In September, he won the Democratic [[primary election]] with 42% of the vote. He defeated State Senator [[Catherine Abate]] (27%), Koppell (22%), and former Governor's Counsel Evan Davis (9%).<ref>[http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=122181 NY Attorney General – D Primary Race – Sep 15, 1998]. Our Campaigns.</ref> In the general election Spitzer would face the incumbent, Dennis Vacco, a Republican. In late October 1998, Spitzer conceded that his father had lent him most of the campaign money he raised. According to ''[[The New York Times]]'', after "repeatedly contending that he alone paid his campaign bills this year and in 1994, [Spitzer] acknowledged [that] his father, a wealthy real estate developer, [played] an extensive role in helping to finance his campaigns."<ref name="nytimes1998">[https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/28/nyregion/1998-campaign-money-spitzer-concedes-that-his-father-has-helped-pay-for.html The 1998 Campaign: The Money; Spitzer Concedes That His Father Has Helped to Pay for Campaigns – New York Times]. ''The New York Times''. (October 28, 1998).</ref> He financed the campaigns from two sets of loans—both from [[J.P. Morgan & Company]]—that amounted to $4.3 million in 1994 and $4.8 million in 1998. Spitzer said, "I have worked long, long hours for my dad and for various businesses. Look, I'm not saying that I am underpaid. But any effort to challenge the propriety of that fee is way off base."<ref name="nytimes1998"/> On October 28, ''The New York Times'' endorsed Spitzer, opining that both candidates were flawed but adding that "Vacco's performance and his key policy positions make him an even worse choice [than Spitzer]".<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/29/opinion/eliot-spitzer-for-attorney-general.html Eliot Spitzer for Attorney General – New York Times]. ''The New York Times''. (October 29, 1998).</ref> In November, Spitzer went on to defeat Republican incumbent Dennis Vacco by a small margin of victory of 0.6%. Spitzer did not win a single county in [[Upstate New York]] and won a total of six counties statewide ([[Manhattan|New York]] (81%), [[Bronx]] (80%), [[Brooklyn|Kings]] (75%), [[Queens]] (67%), [[Westchester County, New York|Westchester]] (52%), and [[Rockland County, New York|Rockland]] (48%)).<ref>[http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=79411 NY Attorney General Race – Nov 03, 1998]. Our Campaigns.</ref> ====2002 reelection campaign==== In 2002 Spitzer ran for re-election and a second term as New York's Attorney General. Spitzer defeated Republican Judge [[Dora Irizarry]] 66–30%.<ref>[http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=1657 NY Attorney General Race – Nov 05, 2002]. Our Campaigns.</ref> ===Tenure overview=== {{Main|List of cases of Attorney General Eliot Spitzer}} As Attorney General, Spitzer stepped up the profile of the office. Traditionally, state attorneys general have pursued [[consumer rights]] cases, concentrating on local fraud while deferring national issues to the [[Federal government of the United States|federal government]]. Breaking with this traditional deference, Spitzer took up civil actions and criminal prosecutions relating to corporate [[white-collar crime]], securities fraud, Internet fraud, and environmental protection.<ref>{{cite news |first=Daniel |last=Gross|author-link=Daniel Gross (journalist)|title=Eliot Spitzer – How New York's attorney general became the most powerful man on Wall Street |url=http://www.slate.com/id/2108509/sidebar/2108525 |work=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |date=October 21, 2004 |access-date=March 14, 2008}}</ref> The New York Attorney General's office has [[Wall Street]] (and thus many leading corporate and financial institutions) within its jurisdiction. Also, the New York Attorney General wields greater than usual powers of investigation and prosecution of corporations under New York State's General Business Law. In particular, under the [[Martin Act]] of 1921, the New York Attorney General has the power to [[subpoena]] witnesses and company documents pertaining to investigations of fraud or illegal activity by a corporation. Spitzer used this [[statute]] to allow his office to prosecute cases which have been described as within federal jurisdiction.<ref>{{cite news |first=Steve |last=Kroft |title=The Sheriff of Wall Street |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/05/23/60minutes/main555310.shtml |work=[[CBS News]] |date=May 25, 2003 |access-date=November 4, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Raymond J. |last=Keating |title=Spitzer's 'federalist papers' are onerous |url=http://blog.nysrpa.org/?p=513 |work=[[Newsday]] |date=August 21, 2006 |access-date=November 4, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080317040914/http://blog.nysrpa.org/?p=513 |archive-date=March 17, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Spitzer used this authority in his civil actions against corporations and criminal prosecutions against their officers. It proved useful in the wake of several U.S. [[corporate scandal]]s that began with the collapse of [[Enron]] in 2001. Several of these corporations, as well as the brokerage houses that sold their stock, were accused of having inflated stock values by unethical means throughout the 1990s. When inquiries into these allegations by the [[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]] (SEC) and [[United States Congress|Congress]] failed, Spitzer's office used its subpoena power to obtain corporate documents, building cases against the firms both in courtrooms and in [[public opinion]].{{citation needed|date=April 2019}} During his term in office, Spitzer also commissioned a 1999 study of the [[NYPD]]'s [[stop-and-frisk]] practices.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dianepublishing.net/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=0788187538|title= New York City Police Department's 'Stop & Frisk' Practices: A Report to the People of the State of New York from the Office of the Attorney General|publisher=Diane Publishing}}</ref> In 2004, ''[[The Nation]]'' endorsed Spitzer as a possible Democratic candidate for vice president, stating that he was "the single most effective battler against [[corporate abuses]] in either political party".<ref>[http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat?bid=1&pid=1295 Running for Running Mate]. ''The Nation''. Retrieved March 16, 2010.</ref> He was, however, not chosen. ===Loan investigation controversy=== The New York State Senate Investigations committee considered investigating a controversial multi-million-dollar loan the governor's father [[Bernard Spitzer]] gave him when he ran for attorney general in 1998, a loan the younger Spitzer paid back.<ref name="2nyt072307"/> Senate Investigations Committee chairman [[George Winner]] told the ''[[New York Post]]'' that subpoenas should be used to find out about the loans.<ref>{{cite news |title=State Senate GOP Seek Spitzer Loan Records |agency=Associated Press | date=July 23, 2007}}{{verify source|date=February 2013}}</ref> Winner wrote to Senate Elections Committee chairman Senator [[Joseph Griffo]] that an article profiling Spitzer in ''[[New York (magazine)|New York]]'' magazine "outlined what may have been a willful effort by Eliot Spitzer and his father to circumvent campaign-contribution limits in New York state law and then conceal their actions."<ref name="loanpost072307">Dicker, Fredric. [http://www.nypost.com/seven/07232007/news/columnists/gop_puts_heat_on_eliots_5m_loan_columnists_fredric_u__dicker.htm "GOP PUTS HEAT ON ELIOT'S $5M LOAN"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070819121835/http://www.nypost.com/seven/07232007/news/columnists/gop_puts_heat_on_eliots_5m_loan_columnists_fredric_u__dicker.htm |date=August 19, 2007 }}, ''[[New York Post]]'', July 23, 2007. Retrieved July 28, 2007.</ref> In 1998, Spitzer claimed that he secured the $5 million loan by [[mortgage loan|mortgaging]] apartments his father had given him, but later revealed that his father was paying off the loans and, therefore, financing his campaign.<ref name="2nyt072307"/><ref name="loanpost072307"/> ==2006 gubernatorial campaign== {{Main|2006 New York gubernatorial election}} [[File:Spitzer-on-stage (292269882).jpg|thumb|Spitzer celebrating on election night]] On December 8, 2004, Spitzer announced his intention to seek the Democratic nomination for governor of New York. While long rumored, Spitzer's announcement was unusually early—nearly two years before the election. As a result of Spitzer's relative speed in bringing state Democrats to his side, he gained the respect of Democratic leaders nationwide. [[New Mexico]] Governor [[Bill Richardson]] dubbed Spitzer the "future of the Democratic Party" at a fund raiser held in June 2005 for Spitzer's gubernatorial campaign.<ref>{{cite news |title=Richardson praises Eliot Spitzer as "future" of Democratic Party |url=http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/14376.html |agency=Associated Press |date=June 2, 2005 |access-date=November 4, 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060813225348/http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/14376.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = August 13, 2006}}</ref> In January 2006, Spitzer selected New York State Senate minority leader [[David Paterson]] as his choice for lieutenant governor and running mate. After announcing his candidacy, Spitzer was endorsed by numerous New Yorkers, including state Comptroller [[Alan Hevesi]] and two former New York City mayors, [[David Dinkins]] and [[Ed Koch]]. On May 30, 2006, Spitzer and Paterson won the endorsement of the New York State Democratic party.<ref>{{cite news |first=Danny |last=Hakim |title=Convention Notebook; Controversy Over Ground Zero's Fate Is Front and Center in Buffalo |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/30/nyregion/30cnd-convene.html |work=The New York Times |date=May 30, 2006 |access-date=November 4, 2006}}</ref> A June 2006 [[Quinnipiac University Polling Institute]] poll showed him leading [[Nassau County, New York|Nassau]] [[county executive]] [[Thomas Suozzi]] 76–13 percent.<ref>{{cite news|title=Faso Convention Bubble Goes Flat in Gov Race, Quinnipiac University New York State Poll Finds; Spitzer Still Has 40-Point Lead Over Faso, Suozzi |url=http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x11373.xml?ReleaseID=928 |agency=Associated Press |date=June 21, 2006 |access-date=November 4, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060909075213/https://www.quinnipiac.edu/x11373.xml?ReleaseID=928 |archive-date=September 9, 2006 }}</ref> On July 25, 2006, he faced Suozzi in a gubernatorial debate held at [[Pace University]] in Manhattan, discussing issues such as [[public authority|public authorities]] and [[Medicaid]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Josh|last=Robin|title=Spitzer, Suozzi Face-Off in Sole Gubernatorial Debate|url=http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?aid=61294&search_result=1|publisher=[[NY1]]|date=July 25, 2006|access-date=November 4, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927003049/http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?aid=61294&search_result=1|archive-date=September 27, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> When asked about [[cannabis (drug)|marijuana]], Spitzer stated that he disagrees with [[medical marijuana|medicinal use]] of the drug, claiming that other medicines were more effective.<ref>{{cite news|first=Geoffrey|last=Gray|title=Spitzer Chokes on Pot Deal|url=http://newyorkmetro.com/news/intelligencer/18863/|work=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|date=August 14, 2006|access-date=November 4, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204161601/http://www.newyorkmetro.com/news/intelligencer/18863/|archive-date=December 4, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the Democratic primary held on September 12, 2006, Spitzer handily defeated Suozzi, securing his party's nomination with 81 percent of the vote. On October 5, Spitzer addressed the [[Empire State Pride Agenda]] and declared that he would work as governor to legalize gay marriage in New York.<ref>{{cite news|first=Danny|last=Hakim|title=Spitzer Vows to Push for Gay Marriage|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/07/nyregion/07gays.html |work=The New York Times|date=October 7, 2006|access-date=November 4, 2006}}</ref> Spitzer was elected governor on November 7, 2006, when he defeated Republican [[John Faso]] and [[Libertarian Party of New York|Libertarian]] John Clifton, among others, with 69 percent of the vote. He won with the largest margin of victory ever in a New York gubernatorial race.<ref>Plotch, Philip Mark. ''Politics Across the Hudson: The Tappan Zee Megaproject''. Rutgers University Press, New Jersey (2015). p. 114. {{ISBN|978-0-8135-7249-9}}.</ref> ==Governor of New York== {{See also|Executive Chamber of Eliot Spitzer}} {{Infobox New York cabinet |align=right |Name=Spitzer |Governor=Eliot Spitzer |Governor start=2007 |Governor end=2008 |Lieutenant Governor=[[David Paterson]] |Lieutenant Governor start=2007 |Lieutenant Governor end=2008 |govsec=[[Rich Baum]] |govsec start=2007 |govsec end=2008 |General Counsel=[[David Nocenti]] |General Counsel start=2007 |General Counsel end=2008 |Communications Director=[[Darren Dopp]] |Communications Director start=2007 |Communications Director end=2007 |Communications Director 2=Christine Anderson |Communications Director start 2=2007 |Communications Director end 2=2008 |Operations=[[Olivia Golden]] |Operations start=2007 |Operations end=2008 |Operations 2=[[Paul Francis]] |Operations start 2=2008 |Operations end 2=2008 |Chief of Staff=[[Marlene Turner]] |Chief of Staff start=2007 |Chief of Staff end=2008 |attygen=[[Andrew Cuomo]] |attygen start=2007 |attygen end=2008 |inspgen=[[Kristine Hamann]] |inspgen start=2007 |inspgen end=2008 |comp=[[Thomas Sanzillo]] (Acting) |comp start=2007 |comp end=2007 |comp 2=[[Thomas DiNapoli]] |comp start 2=2007 |comp end 2=2008 |agandmarkets=[[Patrick Hooker]] |agandmarkets start=2007 |agandmarkets end=2008 |banking=[[Richard H. Neiman]] |banking start=2007 |banking end=2008 |civilservice=[[Nancy G. Groenwegen]] |civilservice start=2007 |civilservice end=2008 |corrections=[[Brian Fischer]] |corrections start=2007 |corrections end=2008 |dec=[[Alexander Pete Grannis]] |dec start=2007 |dec end=2008 |Education=[[Richard P. Mills (educator)|Richard P. Mills]] |Education start=2007 |Education end=2008 |Health=[[Richard F. Daines]] |Health start=2007 |Health end=2008 |Insurance =[[Eric R. Dinallo]] |Insurance start=2007 |Insurance end=2008 |Labor=[[M. Patricia Smith]] |Labor start=2007 |Labor end=2008 |dmv=[[David Swarts]] |dmv start=2007 |dmv end=2008 |mil=Maj. Gen. [[Joseph J. Taluto]] |mil start=2007 |mil end=2008 |Public Service=[[Patricia Acampora]] |Public Service start=2007 |Public Service end=2008 |Public Service 2=[[Garry A. Brown (politician)|Garry A. Brown]] |Public Service start 2=2008 |Public Service end 2=2008 |State=[[Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez]] |State start=2007 |State end=2008 |tax=[[Robert L. Megna]] |tax start=2007 |tax end=2008 |Transportation=[[Astrid C. Glynn]] |Transportation start=2007 |Transportation end=2008 }} During the traditional midnight ceremony on January 1, 2007, Spitzer was sworn in as Governor of New York. A public ceremony was held at 1 p.m. on the same day that featured brass and percussion players from the [[Empire State Youth Orchestra]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Cooper |title=Amid Champagne and Cheers, Spitzer Is Sworn in as Governor |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/01/nyregion/01inaug.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=January 1, 2007 }}</ref> Bucking tradition, the ceremony was held outdoors—the first outdoor inauguration ceremony in New York for over a century.<ref>[https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aVp7olerYxwc "Spitzer, Sworn in as New York Governor, Vows Historic Reform"], Bloomberg, January 1, 2007. Retrieved July 27, 2007.</ref> After taking the oath of office, he attended a concert at the [[Times Union Center]] in his honor, headlined by [[James Taylor]] and [[Natalie Merchant]]. ===Legislative measures supported=== * [[Jonathan's Law]]. In May 2007, Governor Spitzer signed this legislation concerning parental and guardian access to files and records concerning their children and child abuse investigations.<ref>{{cite web|author=NICHOLAS CONFESSORE|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/27/nyregion/27spitzer.html |title=After a Rough Start, Spitzer Rethinks His Ways - The New York Times |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 27, 2007 |access-date=February 23, 2019}}</ref> * The Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act, an abortion rights measure introduced by Spitzer in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|author=Cara Matthews, ROC |url=https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/politics/blogs/vote-up/2011/06/02/reproductive-rights-bill-moves-forward-in-assembly/2176985/ |title=Reproductive-rights bill moves forward in Assembly |publisher=Democratandchronicle.com |access-date=February 23, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=DANNY HAKIM|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/25/nyregion/26spitzercnd.html |title=Spitzer Seeks Overhaul of New York's Abortion Law - The New York Times |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 25, 2007 |access-date=February 23, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=DANNY HAKIM|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/26/nyregion/26spitzer.html |title=Spitzer Pushing Bill to Shore Up Abortion Rights - The New York Times |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 26, 2007 |access-date=February 23, 2019}}</ref> ===Roadblocks to reform=== [[File:EliotSpitzerApril24.07.jpg|thumb|left|Spitzer speaking in April 2007]] Spitzer's reform-based platform, and his pledge "to change the ethics of [[Albany, New York|Albany]]", hit an early roadblock when his ideas on how to fill vacancies in the executive department were defeated by the state legislature. According to the [[New York State Constitution]], it is the duty of the state legislature to fill executive vacancies. The governor was criticized as unreasonable for admonishing the legislature when it took constitutional actions. The appointment of state assemblyman [[Thomas DiNapoli]] to succeed the disgraced [[Alan Hevesi]] as [[New York State Comptroller]] was a serious blow to the new governor. Spitzer had backed an outside panel to draft a list of qualified candidates; the legislature resisted Spitzer's desires when these included no legislators.<ref>{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Cooper |title=Legislators Pick a Comptroller, Defying Spitzer. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/08/nyregion/08comptroller.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=February 8, 2007 |access-date=February 12, 2007 }}</ref> Some Assembly Democrats were alienated over the incident, and questioned Spitzer's refusal of extending [[patronage]] to party members seeking local{{Vague|date=January 2010}} political appointments<!-- Is this about state (as opposed to local, i.e., municipal, county, etc.) appts, calling for service near their homes or businesses? -->.{{Verify source|date=January 2010}} Spitzer's choice was New York City Finance Commissioner [[Martha Stark]], who was selected by a panel that consisted of former State Comptroller [[Edward Regan]], former State Comptroller [[Carl McCall]] and former New York City Comptroller [[Harrison J. Goldin]]. On February 7, 2007, when the Legislature voted, Stark was one of two names put into nomination, along with Assemblyman Thomas DiNapoli of Long Island, Assembly Leader [[Sheldon Silver]]'s choice. The final vote was 150 for DiNapoli and 56 for Stark. Stark's main support came from Democrats in the Senate, along with Republicans in both chambers.{{Verify source|date=January 2010}} Spitzer traveled to the home districts of Democratic assemblymen William B. Magnarelli and George S. Latimer (in [[Syracuse, New York|Syracuse]] and [[Westchester County]] respectively), and publicly criticized them for their votes on DiNapoli; he had plans to exert similar pressure on other of his party's legislators.<ref>Fenner, Austin and Mahoney, Joe. {{cite web |url=http://nydailynews.com/front/v-pfriendly/story/497049p-418915c.html |title=Bulldog Spitzer rips pol |website=[[New York Daily News]] |access-date=June 1, 2016}}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, ''[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]'', February 12, 2007. Retrieved July 28, 2007.</ref><ref>Hakim, Danny. [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/13/nyregion/13spitzer.html "On Tour to Talk Up Budget Plan, Spitzer Stays on Attack"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', February 13, 2007. Retrieved July 28, 2007.</ref> Spitzer's budget quickly turned into a deficit, as by the end of October it was projected the state would run a deficit exceeding $4 billion for the year. During Spitzer's first year the state payroll increased, aggravating the budget problem.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/stories/2007/12/10/daily37.html |title=State payroll jumps with Spitzer | date=December 13, 2007}}</ref> Despite increasing the public sector payroll, in late 2007 New York State started leading the nation in lost jobs. The 2008–09 budget included measures to counter the [[Great Recession]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://publications.budget.state.ny.us/eBudget0809/ExecutiveBudgetPresentation2008-09Final.pdf |title=2008–09 Executive Budget, Eliot Spitzer |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080311190720/http://publications.budget.state.ny.us/eBudget0809/ExecutiveBudgetPresentation2008-09Final.pdf |archive-date=March 11, 2008 }}. Retrieved March 14, 2008.</ref> Spitzer was criticized by members of the [[New York State Legislature]] for failing to compromise on issues during his first few months as governor. In one exchange, Spitzer told New York State Assembly Minority Leader [[James Tedisco]]: "Listen, I'm a fucking steamroller and I'll roll over you and anybody else".<ref name=vanityfair>{{cite web|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2008/01/spitzer200801|title=The Year of Governing Dangerously|last=Margolick|first=David|work=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]|date=November 30, 2006|accessdate=October 6, 2022}}</ref> Spitzer's reputation as a "steamroller" was shared by a plurality of New Yorkers in a [[Quinnipiac University poll]], but by a 3-to-1 margin they believed the tactic had been unsuccessful and had only added to political gridlock.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1318.xml?ReleaseID=1107|title=Spitzer Knew About Troopergate And Should Testify, New York State Voters Tell Quinnipiac University Poll; Comptroller Should Share Pension Decisions, Voters Say|access-date=October 12, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080126120531/http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1318.xml?ReleaseID=1107|archive-date=January 26, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> Tedisco later accused Spitzer of cutting $300,000 of state funding for health care and education grants in the [[Schenectady]] area as retaliation for Tedisco's opposition to the Spitzer plan to allow [[illegal immigrants]] New York State driver's licenses. Tedisco accused the Governor of "dirty tricks" and "bullying".<ref>[http://www.cbs6albany.com/news/spitzer_1252204___article.html/tedisco_governor.html Tedisco Accuses Spitzer of 'Dirty Tricks,' 'Bullying'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025001650/http://www.cbs6albany.com/news/spitzer_1252204___article.html/tedisco_governor.html |date=October 25, 2007 }} October 17, 2007</ref> In the wake of the [[Eliot Spitzer political surveillance controversy|political surveillance controversy]] involving Bruno, Spitzer was accused of pandering to special interest groups to solidify his base of support. "The governor who took office vowing to clean up Albany has lost so much public support that he is reduced to feathering the nest of the unions and other liberals," wrote Michael Goodwin of the ''[[New York Daily News|Daily News]]''.<ref>Goodwin, Michael, [http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2007/09/30/2007-09-30_cornered_by_troopergate_spitzer_is_showi.html Cornered by Troopergate, Spitzer is showing his desperation], ''[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]''.</ref> In February 2008, ''The Washington Post'' published an [[op-ed]] written by Spitzer in which he criticized the [[Presidency of George W. Bush|Bush Administration]] for inhibiting states from pursuing [[predatory lending|predatory lender]]s.<ref name="wplender">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/13/AR2008021302783.html|title=Predatory Lenders' Partner in Crime; How the Bush Administration Stopped the States From Stepping in to Help Consumers|last=Spitzer|first=Elliot |date=February 14, 2008|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=September 30, 2008}}</ref> ===Proposal to legalize same-sex marriage=== In April 2007, Spitzer proposed a bill that would legalize [[same-sex marriage in New York]]. State Senate Majority Leader [[Joe Bruno]] announced his opposition to the proposal.<ref>{{cite news |title=Spitzer unveils gay marriage bill; Senate leader balks|agency=Associated Press |date=April 27, 2007}}</ref> This legislation passed in the [[New York State Assembly|State Assembly]] on June 19, 2007, but was denied in the [[New York State Senate|State Senate]] and was returned to the Assembly.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A08590|title=Bill Summary – A08590}}</ref> === Use of State Police for surveillance / "Troopergate" === {{Main|Eliot Spitzer political surveillance controversy}} On July 23, 2007, [[New York Attorney General]] [[Andrew Cuomo]]'s office admonished the Spitzer administration for ordering the State Police to keep special records of Senate majority leader [[Joseph Bruno]]'s whereabouts when he traveled with police escorts in New York City.<ref name="nyt072307">Hakim, Danny. [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/23/nyregion/23cnd-spitzer.html "Spitzer's Staff Misused Police, Report Finds"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', July 23, 2007. Retrieved July 28, 2007.</ref> A 57-page report issued by the Attorney General's office concluded that Spitzer engaged in creating media coverage concerning Senator Bruno's travel.<ref name="buft072307">{{cite news |first=Tom |last=Precious |title=Cuomo criticizes Spitzer for using State Police to monitor Bruno |publisher=The Buffalo News |date=July 23, 2007}}</ref> The investigation looked into both Bruno's travel and the Senate leader's allegation that Spitzer used State Police to spy on him.<ref name="guard072307">Gormley, Michael. [https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3406517 "Report: NY Governor's Office Leaked Data"], ''[[The Guardian]]'', July 23, 2007. Retrieved July 28, 2007. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080323032614/https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3406517 |date=March 23, 2008 }}</ref> Cuomo concluded that "These e-mails show that persons in the governor's office did not merely produce records under a [[FOIL request]], but were instead engaged in planning and producing media coverage concerning Senator Bruno's travel on state aircraft before any FOIL request was made."<ref name="oneida1">{{cite news | author = Gormley, Michael | url = http://www.oneidadispatch.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18620173&BRD=1709&PAG=461&dept_id=68844&rfi=6 | title = Spitzer aides linked to Bruno leaks | newspaper = Utica [[Observer-Dispatch]] | quote = Cuomo concluded: "These e-mails show that persons in the governor's office did not merely produce records under a [[FOIL request]], but were instead engaged in planning and producing media coverage concerning Senator Bruno's travel on state aircraft before any FOIL request was made." | date = July 24, 2007 | access-date = July 28, 2007 | url-status = dead | archive-date = September 27, 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927211135/http://www.oneidadispatch.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18620173&BRD=1709&PAG=461&dept_id=68844&rfi=6 }}</ref><ref name="wpost072507">Faiola, Anthony. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/24/AR2007072401999.html "N.Y. Governor Moves to Limit Ethics Scandal"], ''[[The Washington Post]]'', Page A06, July 25, 2007. Retrieved July 28, 2007.</ref> It also suggests that the governor's staff lied when they tried to explain what they had done and forced the State Police to go far beyond their normal procedures in documenting Bruno's whereabouts.<ref name="2nyt072307">Hakim, Danny. [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/24/nyregion/24governor.html "His Aura Faded Now, Spitzer Faces Bolder Enemies"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', July 23, 2007. Retrieved July 28, 2007.</ref> The report cleared Bruno of any misuse of the state's air fleet, which had been alleged.<ref name="ijour072307">Matthews, Cara. [http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070723/NEWS01/70723006/1002 "Cuomo: Spitzer aides used state police to try to damage Bruno"]{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''[[The Ithaca Journal]]'', July 23, 2007. Retrieved July 28, 2007.</ref><ref name="nday072307">{{cite news |last=Mansfield |first=Melissa |title=Spitzer punishes aides after AG report |work=Newsday |date=July 23, 2007}}</ref><ref name="sun072307"/><ref name="siadv"/> The report criticized Spitzer's office for using State Police resources to gather information about Bruno's travel and releasing the information to the media.<ref name="sun072307">Gershman, Jacob. [http://www.nysun.com/article/58958 "Spitzer Faces Probe in Senate"], ''[[New York Sun]]'', July 24, 2007. Retrieved July 28, 2007.</ref> The findings of the report were endorsed by Spitzer's own Inspector General, Kristine Hamann.<ref name="nyt072307"/><ref name="guard072307"/><ref name="sun072307"/><ref name="siadv"/> Spitzer responded at a July 23 press conference that "As governor, I am accountable for what goes on in the executive branch and I accept responsibility for the actions of my office"<ref name="nyt072307"/> and that his administration had "grossly mishandled"<ref name="nyt072307"/> the situation.<ref name="siadv">Goldenberg, Sally. [http://blog.silive.com/advanceupdate/2007/07/report_governors_office_compil.html "Report: Governor's office compiled, leaked data on Bruno"], ''[[Staten Island Advance]]'', July 23, 2007. Retrieved July 28, 2007.</ref> Spitzer subsequently announced that he would indefinitely suspend his communications director, Darren Dopp, and reassign another top official.<ref name="atu072307">Jochnowitz, Jay. {{cite web |url=http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=608323&category=&BCCode=HOME&newsdate=7%2F23%2F2007 |title=AG report faults Spitzer aides in Bruno scheme |access-date=March 14, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514041000/http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=608323&category=&BCCode=HOME&newsdate=7%2F23%2F2007 |archive-date=May 14, 2008 }}, ''[[Times Union (Albany)|Albany Times-Union]]'', July 23, 2007. Retrieved July 28, 2007.</ref> When questioned about his promise to bring ethical responsibility to state politics, Spitzer responded by saying "I will not tolerate this behavior",<ref name="nyt072307"/> "ethics and accountability must and will remain rigorous in my administration,"<ref name="ijour072307"/> and that "I have always stated that I want ethics and integrity to be the hallmarks of my administration. That is why I requested that the State Inspector General review the allegations with respect to my office, and that is why we have fully cooperated with both inquiries."<ref name="nday072307"/> The investigations of the event, dubbed "Troopergate" by media outlets, were not affected by Spitzer's resignation.<ref>Freifeld, Karen. "[https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aV6a0DI3HR0k Spitzer Troopergate Subpoenas Still Stand, Judge Told]". Bloomberg. March 13, 2008.</ref> As of March 2008, four probes by the state Attorney General's office, the State Senate Investigations Committee, the Albany County District Attorney's Office, and the New York Commission on Public Integrity were ongoing.<ref>"[http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2008/03/13/2008-03-13_eliot_spitzers_tumultuous_reign.html Eliot Spitzer's tumultuous reign]". ''[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]''. March 13, 2008.</ref><ref>Spector, Joseph. "[http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2008/03/13/troopergate-in-court/ Troopergate In Court]". ''[[The Journal News|Journal News]]''. March 13, 2008.</ref> ===Driver's licenses for illegal immigrants=== {{Main|Eliot Spitzer drivers license controversy}} [[File:08 30 07 spitzer Clinton.jpg|thumb|left|Spitzer with [[Hillary Clinton]] in 2007]] On September 21, 2007, Spitzer issued an [[executive order]] directing that state offices allow illegal immigrants to be issued [[driver's license]]s effective December 2007.<ref>{{cite news |title=Department of Motor Vehicles Changes License Policy to Include More New Yorkers and Implements New Regime of Anti-Fraud Measures to Strengthen the Security of the System |url=http://www.ny.gov/governor/press/0921071.html |work=press release |publisher=Office of the Governor of New York |date=September 21, 2007 |access-date=November 10, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071030132823/http://www.ny.gov/governor/press/0921071.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = October 30, 2007}}</ref><ref name="grants">{{cite news |first=Nina |last=Bernstein |title=Spitzer grants undocumented immigrants easier access to driver's licenses |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html |work=The New York Times |date=September 22, 2007 |access-date=November 14, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101224144421/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html |archive-date=December 24, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Applicants for driver's licenses would not be required to prove legal immigration status and would be allowed to present a foreign passport as identification.<ref name="grants"/> In October 2007, after meeting with the [[United States Department of Homeland Security|Department of Homeland Security]], Spitzer altered the plan so that licenses issued to migrant workers would look different from other licenses and that the new licenses would not allow access to airplanes and federal buildings.<ref>{{cite news |first=James T. |last=Madore |url=http://www.newsday.com/news/local/state/ny-usimmi095452806nov09,0,2841126.story|title=Spitzer defends license plan over Democrat fears |work=Newsday |date=November 9, 2007 |access-date=November 10, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071111145743/http://www.newsday.com/news/local/state/ny-usimmi095452806nov09,0,2841126.story |archive-date=November 11, 2007}}</ref> On October 22, 2007, the State Senate passed legislation that would have overturned Spitzer's plan to allow driver licenses to be obtained by undocumented immigrants. The bill passed by a margin of 39 to 19, receiving bipartisan support. Eight Democrats from moderate districts broke with Spitzer on the vote.<ref name="senatevotes">{{cite news |first=Nicholas |last=Confessore |title=Senate Votes to Stop Spitzer Plan to Give undocumented Immigrants Driver's Licenses |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/23/nyregion/23legislature.html |work=The New York Times |date=October 23, 2007 |access-date=November 10, 2007 }}</ref><ref name="defected">{{cite news |first=Nicholas |last=Confessore |title=Why Some Democrats Defected on Spitzer Driver's License Plan |url=http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/23/looking-at-the-state-senates-democratic-defectors/ |work=The New York Times |date=October 23, 2007 |access-date=November 10, 2007 }}</ref> After the vote, ''[[The New York Times]]'' called this issue "Mr. Spitzer's single most unpopular decision since he took office".<ref name="defected"/> Following the State Senate's vote, Spitzer revised his plan again, proposing the issuance of a third type of driver's license.<ref name="visadates"/> This driver's license would be available only to United States citizens who are New York State residents, and would be valid for crossing the [[Canada–US border]].<ref name="visadates">{{cite news |first=Nicholas |last=Confessore |title=Visa data to be included on driver's licenses again |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/31/nyregion/31license.html |work=The New York Times |date=October 31, 2007 |access-date=November 14, 2007 }}</ref> Spitzer also announced that the expiration dates of temporary [[visa (document)|visas]] would be printed on the driver's licenses of individuals living in the country with them.<ref name="visadates"/> On November 14, the day following the release of a poll showing the proposal as extremely unpopular with voters, Spitzer announced he would withdraw the plan, acknowledging that it would never be implemented.<ref>{{cite news |first=Devlin |last=Barrett |title=Spitzer Dropping His Driver's License Plan |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/14/nyregion/14spitzer.html |work=The New York Times |date=November 14, 2007 |access-date=November 14, 2007 }}</ref><ref name=drivelices>{{cite news |first=Sasha |last=Issenberg |title=Clinton backs N.Y. driver's license plan for undocumented immigrants |url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/11/01/clinton_backs_ny_drivers_license_plan_for_illegal_immigrants/ |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=November 1, 2007 |access-date=November 10, 2007 }}</ref><ref name="Kramer-Flip">{{cite web|url=http://wcbstv.com/local/spitzer.immigrant.drivers.2.567070.html|title=Just Call Him...Gov. Flip-Flop|access-date=November 26, 2007|last=Kramer|first=Marcia|date=November 15, 2007|work=Local News|publisher=[[WCBS-TV]]|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071114221917/http://wcbstv.com/local/spitzer.immigrant.drivers.2.567070.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = November 14, 2007}}</ref> The decision drew derision from the press, as the [[Associated Press]] termed this reversal a "surrender."<ref>{{cite news |first=Devlin |last=Barrett |title=Gov. Spitzer Surrenders on License Fight |agency=Associated Press |date=November 15, 2007}}</ref> [[WCBS-TV]] labeled him "Governor Flip-Flop."<ref name="Kramer-Flip"/> ===Approval rating as governor=== As of November 13, 2007, Spitzer's approval rating as governor was 33 percent,<ref>{{cite news |title=Governor Eliot Spitzer's approval rating plummets over license plan |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/11/13/2007-11-13_governor_eliot_spitzers_approval_rating_.html |work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] |date=November 13, 2007 |access-date=March 11, 2008 |first=Joe |last=Mahoney}}</ref> a further decline from his 44% approval rating of October 24, 2007.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=9e307543-f15c-4de9-b2cf-0d629d5e3792 |title=Results of SurveyUSA News Poll #12789 |work=SurveyUSA |date=October 24, 2007 }}</ref> A Siena College poll showed that New York City Mayor [[Michael Bloomberg]] would defeat Spitzer were he to seek reelection.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/politics/blogs/political-scene/2007/10/15/spitzer-takes-a-beating-in-new-poll/2283923/|title=Spitzer takes a beating in new poll|author=<!-- Staff -->|work=[[Democrat and Chronicle]]|date=October 15, 2007|accessdate=October 6, 2022}}</ref> Two polls in December 2007 showed further erosion in Spitzer's public standing.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.legislativegazette.com/read_more.php?story=2752 |title=Two polls show Spitzer's public image still suffering |first=Kyle |last=Miller |work=Legislative Gazette |date=December 17, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308124229/http://www.legislativegazette.com/read_more.php?story=2752 |archive-date=March 8, 2008 }}</ref> ===Prostitution scandal=== {{Main|Eliot Spitzer prostitution scandal}} On March 10, 2008, ''The New York Times'' reported that Spitzer had patronized a high-priced [[Escort agency|escort service]] called Emperors Club VIP<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/07/nyregion/07prostitution.html |title=Four Charged With Running Online Prostitution Ring |first=Alan |last=Feuer |date=March 7, 2008 |work=The New York Times }}</ref> and met for two hours with a $1,000-an-hour [[Call girl#Call girls and celebrities|call girl]]. This information originally came to the attention of authorities from a federal [[Telephone tapping|wiretap]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/10/spitzer-as-client-9-read_n_90787.html |title=Spitzer As Client 9: Read Text Messages From Spitzer To Prostitute |work=Huffington Post |date=March 10, 2008 |first=Nico |last=Pitney}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2008/03/10/spitzer-missed-lesson-of-dc-madam/ |title=Spitzer Missed Lesson of D.C. "Madam" |date=March 5, 2008 |work=Washington City Paper |first=Erik |last=Wemple }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.wnbc.com/news/15555281/detail.html |title=Spitzer apologizes to family, public |access-date=March 10, 2008 |date=March 10, 2008 |publisher=[[WNBC]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080312043747/http://www.wnbc.com/news/15555281/detail.html |archive-date=March 12, 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/0306082emperor6.html |title=Online Hooker Ring Busted |date=March 6, 2008 |publisher=The Smoking Gun |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080312163406/http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/0306082emperor6.html |archive-date=March 12, 2008 }}</ref> During a six month span, Spitzer had at least seven or eight liaisons with women from the agency and paid more than $15,000.<ref>Kessler, Robert. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20080314134125/http://www.latimes.com/ny-stpro0311,0,4551038.story Eliot Spitzer met with call girls 7 or 8 times]". ''[[Newsday]]''. March 11, 2008.</ref><ref>"[http://www.wnbc.com/politics/15562646/detail.html GOP Pol: Resign Or Else]". [[WNBC]]. March 11, 2008. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080312093827/http://www.wnbc.com/politics/15562646/detail.html |date=March 12, 2008 }}</ref> According to published reports, investigators alleged that Spitzer paid up to $80,000 for prostitutes over a period of several years while he was attorney general, and later as governor.<ref name=SAlberts>{{cite news |title=Spitzer resigns amid sex scandal |first=Sheldon |last=Alberts |work=Canwest News Service |publisher=The Gazette |date=March 12, 2008 |url=http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=1722ada9-2541-4484-912a-b41d794f063f |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080315133804/http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=1722ada9-2541-4484-912a-b41d794f063f |archive-date=March 15, 2008 }}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150924041431/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1A1-D8VC6EG00.html "Disgraced NY Governor won't Need New Job"]. Associated Press, March 12, 2008</ref> Spitzer first drew the attention of federal investigators when his bank reported suspicious money transfers under the [[anti-money laundering]] provisions of the [[Bank Secrecy Act]] and the [[Patriot Act]].<ref>Hosenball, Mark (March 15, 2008). [http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2008/03/15/unintended-consequences.html "Unintended consequences: Spitzer got snagged by the fine print of the Patriot Act"]. ''Newsweek''.</ref> The resulting investigation was triggered by the belief that Spitzer might have been hiding bribe proceeds and led to the discovery of the prostitution ring.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4424507&page=1|title=It Wasn't the Sex; Suspicious $$ Transfers Led to Spitzer|author=Brian Ross|website=[[ABC News]]|date=March 10, 2008}}</ref> Later on March 10, Spitzer held a press conference apologizing to his family and to the public. He added, "I must now dedicate some time to regain the trust of my family".<ref name="client9">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/10/nyregion/10cnd-spitzer.html|title=Spitzer Is Linked to Prostitution Ring|work=The New York Times|last1=Hakim|first1=Danny|last2=Rashbaum|first2=William|date=March 10, 2018|access-date=April 24, 2019}}</ref> Following Spitzer's March 10 press conference, [[New York State Assembly]] Republican Minority Leader [[James Tedisco]] and Republican New York Representative [[Peter T. King|Peter King]] separately called for his resignation. Tedisco later announced that he would initiate [[impeachment]] proceedings in the [[New York State Assembly|State Assembly]] if Spitzer did not resign.<ref>"[http://wcbstv.com/breakingnewsalerts/spitzer.prostitution.ring.2.673848.html Republicans Set Deadline For Governor's Ousting: 'I've Asked Him To Resign']". ''[[WCBS-TV]]''. March 11, 2008. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080312003917/http://wcbstv.com/breakingnewsalerts/spitzer.prostitution.ring.2.673848.html |date=March 12, 2008 }}</ref> The prostitution scandal became international news.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/capital-living/9134-maffeis-new-flack-im-not-just-a-spitzer-sob-story|title=Maffei's new flack: 'I'm not just a Spitzer sob story'|first=Ashley|last=Perks|date=January 27, 2009|website=TheHill}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Mar13/0,4670,SpitzerWife,00.html|title=FOXNews.com - Mrs. Spitzer a Behind-The-Scenes Force - Local News - News Articles - National News - US News|website=www.foxnews.com}}</ref> ===Resignation=== In the wake of the revelations and amid threats of impeachment, Spitzer announced on March 12, 2008, that he would resign his post as governor at noon on March 17, 2008. Spitzer said at a news conference in Manhattan: {{blockquote|I cannot allow for my private failings to disrupt the people's work. Over the course of my public life, I have insisted—I believe correctly—that people take responsibility for their conduct. I can and will ask no less of myself. For this reason, I am resigning from the office of governor.<ref name="SAlberts"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amny.com/news/local/wire/politics/ny-bc-ny-spitzer-resignatio0312mar12,0,7214884.story |title=Text of Governor Spitzer's resignation letter |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080320201755/http://www.amny.com/news/local/wire/politics/ny-bc-ny-spitzer-resignatio0312mar12,0,7214884.story |archive-date=March 20, 2008 }}</ref>}} Lieutenant Governor [[David Paterson]] succeeded Spitzer as governor of New York.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.wypr.org/post/why-have-there-been-so-few-black-governors|title=Why Have There Been So Few Black Governors?|first=Maureen|last=Harvie|website=news.wypr.org|date=June 5, 2014}}</ref> Paterson became the first African American Governor of New York State. ==Post-resignation life and career== In 2011, ''[[The Guardian]]'' summarized Spitzer's history as follows:<blockquote>Long before there was Barack Obama there was Spitzer. While Obama toiled unknown in Illinois, the Bronx-born Spitzer won himself a national reputation as the "Sheriff of Wall Street". He was New York's tough-talking attorney-general, who fought banking corruption, enforced environment law and won rights for low-paid workers. He used that fame to enter politics and in 2006 became governor of New York: a perfect springboard for the White House. Before America fell in love with its first black president, people wondered if it was willing to embrace its first Jewish one. Spitzer could have made history.<br/><br/>Instead he left office in disgrace three years ago amid a flood of tabloid headlines that recounted salacious details from his repeated use of a high-end escort service. Spitzer was dubbed the "Luv Guv" and forced into a political wilderness. Rarely in American politics was a fall from grace so spectacular, so complete and so clearly down to a self-inflicted human flaw.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/feb/27/eliot-spitzer-wall-street-fallen-angel|title=Eliot Spitzer: Wall Street's fallen angel|first=Paul|last=Harris|date=February 27, 2011|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref></blockquote> ===Prostitution scandal developments=== On July 16, 2008, ''[[The New York Times]]'' published an article that explained how Spitzer used campaign funds to pay for two [[Mayflower Hotel]] bookings, $411.06 apiece, where he was alleged to have met with prostitutes. While it remains unclear if Spitzer stayed in the hotel on the nights he booked, the ''Times'' has stated that Spitzer met with prostitutes in early 2008. Spitzer declined to comment on the issue.<ref name="New York Times2">{{cite news |title=Spitzer Charged Campaign for Hotel Bills, Raising Question About His Funds |first=Danny |last=Hakim |work=The New York Times |date=June 16, 2008 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/16/nyregion/16spitzer.html }}</ref> In November 2008, prosecutors who were in charge of the case announced that Spitzer would not face criminal charges for his involvement in the sex ring. They cited that no evidence of misuse of public funds was found and therefore it would not serve the public interest to press charges against Spitzer. Spitzer offered an apology, saying, "I appreciate the impartiality and thoroughness of the investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office, and I acknowledge and accept responsibility for the conduct it disclosed."<ref name="times/no charges">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/07/nyregion/07spitzer.html |title=No Federal Prostitution Charges for Spitzer |last=Hakim |first=Danny |author2=William K. Rashbaum |date=November 6, 2008 |work=The New York Times |access-date=November 15, 2008}}</ref> ===Teaching=== In September 2009, Spitzer joined the faculty of the [[City College of New York]] as an adjunct instructor of political science and taught an undergraduate course called "Law and Public Policy".<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www1.ccny.cuny.edu/prospective/humanities/rifkind/upload/Spitzer-Flyer-2.pdf| title=A Special Private Conversation with Gov. Eliot Spitzer| date=April 28, 2011| publisher=City College of New York| access-date=August 23, 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928140102/http://www1.ccny.cuny.edu/prospective/humanities/rifkind/upload/Spitzer-Flyer-2.pdf| archive-date=September 28, 2011| url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="NYT_CCNYProf">{{cite news|last1=Peters|first1=Jeremy|title=Eliot Spitzer Has a New Job: Adjunct Instructor of Political Science|access-date=September 29, 2016|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/03/nyregion/03spitzer.html|work=The New York Times|date=September 2, 2009}}</ref> === Media appearances === Spitzer continued to make public appearances and engage in media commitments following his resignation. ''[[The Washington Post]]'' published a Spitzer opinion piece in November 2008 conveying his analysis of the [[financial crisis of 2007–2008]] and suggested remedies. Spitzer concluded the piece by saying that he hoped the Obama Administration would make the right policy choices, "although mistakes I made in my private life now prevent me from participating in these issues as I have in the past."<ref name=WaPoOpEd>{{cite news |title=How to Ground the Street|first=Spitzer |last=Eliot|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=November 16, 2008|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/13/AR2008111303634.html}}</ref> Spitzer became a regular columnist for ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]'' magazine and in December 2008 ''Slate'' published the first of a new series of columns by Spitzer dedicated to the economy.<ref name="Slate.com">{{cite news |title=Too Big Not To Fail |first=Eliot |last=Spitzer |publisher=Slate.com |date=December 3, 2008 |url=http://www.slate.com/id/2205995/ }}</ref> Spitzer was sued by two former [[Marsh & McLennan]] executives over an August 2010 ''Slate'' column about the Wall Street firm, who alleged the column was [[libel]]ous.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/23/business/media/spitzer-and-slate-face-lawsuit-over-column-on-wall-street.html| title=Spitzer and Slate Face Defamation Lawsuit| first=Jeremy W.| last=Peters| newspaper=The New York Times| date=August 22, 2011| access-date=August 23, 2011}}</ref> A federal judge dismissed the lawsuit the following year.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/29/nyregion/federal-judge-dismisses-libel-lawsuit-against-ex-gov-spitzer.html | title=Federal Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against Ex-Gov. Spitzer | first=Thomas| last=Kaplan| newspaper=The New York Times| date=September 28, 2012| access-date=December 21, 2012}}</ref> Spitzer took on various public speaking arrangements, beginning with a discussion with the New York chapter of the [[Entrepreneurs' Organization]] on June 17, 2009.<ref>{{cite news|title=An Intimate Evening With Eliot Spitzer |first=Joseph |last=Steinberg |publisher=EO-NY |date=April 7, 2009 |url=http://www.eonyc.org/index.php?section=events&evtid=704 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422151624/http://www.eonyc.org/index.php?section=events |archive-date=April 22, 2009 }}</ref> He also made a number of television appearances in 2009 and 2010, including ''[[Real Time with Bill Maher]]'' and ''[[Campbell Brown (TV series)|Campbell Brown]]'' (CNN program), as well as appearing as a substitute anchor on [[MSNBC]]. On June 24, 2010, [[CNN]] announced that Spitzer would be joining the network to host a "round-table" discussion program alongside center-right commentator [[Kathleen Parker]]. ''Parker Spitzer'', compared by some media outlets to the defunct ''[[Crossfire (U.S. TV program)|Crossfire]]'', replaced ''[[Campbell Brown (TV series)|Campbell Brown]]'' in the 8:00&nbsp;p.m. [[Eastern Time Zone|ET]] timeslot on weeknights starting in October.<ref name="spitzerparker1">{{Cite news | title = US: Former governor Eliot Spitzer joins CNN | work = The Spy Report | publisher = Media Spy | date = June 25, 2010 | url = http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2010/06/25/us-former-governor-eliot-spitzer-joins-cnn/ | access-date = June 25, 2010}}</ref> In February 2011, CNN announced that Parker was leaving the show, which was renamed ''[[In the Arena]]'' on February 28, 2011. On July 6, 2011, CNN announced it was canceling ''In the Arena'' and shifting ''[[Anderson Cooper 360°]]'' to the 8 p.m. time slot.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/06/cnn-cancels-in-the-arena-with-eliot-spitzer/| date=July 6, 2011| title=CNN Cancels 'In the Arena' With Eliot Spitzer| first=Brian| last=Stelter| newspaper= The New York Times| access-date=August 23, 2011}}</ref> In March 2012, Spitzer joined Al Gore's cable television network, [[Current TV]], in the wake of the sudden firing of [[Keith Olbermann]] from the network, and immediately began hosting his own program ''[[Viewpoint with Eliot Spitzer]]''.<ref>[[Al Gore|Gore, Al]], and [[Joel Hyatt]], [http://current.com/blog/93722062_open-letter-to-the-viewers-of-current.htm "Open letter to the viewers of Current"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331024614/http://current.com/blog/93722062_open-letter-to-the-viewers-of-current.htm |date=March 31, 2012 }}, Current TV, March 30, 2012.</ref> In January 2013, Spitzer announced that he had left both ''Viewpoint'' and Current TV, and that he would not be joining Current TV in its latest venture with [[Al Jazeera]], citing differences of approach.<ref>{{cite news|title=Eliot Spitzer Ends His Show on Current TV|url=https://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/06/eliot-spitzer-end-his-show-on-current-tv/|work=The New York Times|access-date=January 7, 2013|first=Brian|last=Stelter|date=January 6, 2013}}</ref> ===Investing=== In 2012, Spitzer became an investor in [[TipRanks]], an Israeli financial technology start-up company that ranks Wall Street analysts. He became a member of the company's board of directors.<ref name="Dealbook"/> ===2013 campaign for NYC Comptroller=== {{Main|2013 New York City Comptroller election}} On July 7, 2013, Spitzer announced he was running for [[New York City Comptroller]], and would start a petition the following day. 3,750 valid signatures from registered voters from his party were required by July 11 to register for the race but Spitzer was able to submit over 27,000 signatures to the city Board of Elections before the deadline.<ref>{{cite news|title=Spitzer Submits Signatures to Get on NYC Ballot|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/spitzer-submits-signatures-get-nyc-ballot|agency=Associated Press|access-date=July 12, 2013}}</ref> Spitzer commented that he was asking for forgiveness, and hopeful that voters could forgive him.<ref>{{cite news|title=Asking Forgiveness, Spitzer Will Run for City Comptroller |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/08/nyregion/spitzer-seeks-ballot-for-city-comptrollers-race.html|first1=Michael|last1=Barbaro|first2=David W.|last2=Chen|work=The New York Times|date=July 7, 2013|access-date=July 8, 2013}}</ref> Spitzer lost the primary on September 10, 2013, to [[Scott Stringer]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Live Results: New York City Primary Elections|url=http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/2013/nyc-primary-results?rr|newspaper=The Huffington Post|date=September 10, 2013|first=Aaron|last=Bycoffe}}</ref> === Real estate career === Following his father's illness and death in 2014 and with politics behind him, Spitzer came to lead his family's real estate business, Spitzer Enterprises, despite having avoided the role for much of his life. Spitzer sold his company's apartments in [[The Corinthian (Manhattan)|The Corinthian]] and the [[Crown Building (Manhattan)|Crown Building]] for a large profit, which he used to fund a $700 million project of three waterfront buildings in South [[Williamsburg, Brooklyn]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Bagli |first1=Charles V. |title=Spitzer Charges Into His Family's Real Estate Business |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 15, 2015 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/16/nyregion/spitzer-charging-into-his-familys-real-estate-business.html |issn=0362-4331 }}</ref> ===Extortion victim=== According to prosecutors, Spitzer was the victim of a long-running extortion scheme by Svetlana Travis-Zakharova, a Russian woman who was arrested in October 2016 and charged with forgery and grand larceny. Prosecutors said that Travis-Zakharova extracted $400,000 from Spitzer and also attempted to extort $5,000 from a different man, a toy store owner, and forged his signature on an apartment lease. Travis-Zakharova accused Spitzer of assault in 2016, then later recanted the allegation and returned to Russia. Spitzer subsequently filed a civil suit against Travis-Zakharova, alleging that she had threatened to "ruin his life" unless he agreed to pay her large sums of money. She was arrested after returning to the U.S. for a visit and charged with [[forgery]] and grand larceny; in a [[plea agreement]] in 2017, she pleaded guilty to attempted petty larceny, a misdemeanor.<ref>James C. McKinley Jr., [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/02/nyregion/eliot-spitzer-blackmail-plea-deal.html Woman Accused of Blackmailing Eliot Spitzer Accepts Plea Deal], ''New York Times'' (October 2, 2017).</ref> ==Personal life== [[Silda Wall Spitzer|Silda Wall]] and Eliot Spitzer married in 1987. Together, they have three children. Silda Wall Spitzer stood beside her husband when he announced his resignation as New York governor following his prostitution scandal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/12/24/spitzer-divorce-ny-politics/4197537/|title=Former New York governor Eliot Spitzer, wife split|website=USA TODAY}}</ref> On May 31, 2013, Spitzer and his wife were reported to be living apart.<ref name="Hollywood Life">{{cite news |title=Eliot Spitzer & Wife Silda Living Apart Five Years After Cheating – Report |first=Christopher |last=Rogers |work=Hollywood Life |date=May 31, 2013 |url=http://hollywoodlife.com/2013/05/31/silda-eliot-spitzer-living-apart-cheating-ashely-dupre/ }}</ref> At the close of 2013, Spitzer and his wife announced the end of their marriage.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/24/politics/eliot-spitzer-marriage |title=Eliot Spitzer and his wife announce the end of their marriage |first=Haley |last=Draznin |author2=Catherine E. Shoichet |publisher=CNN |date=December 24, 2013 |access-date=December 30, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/12/25/former-ny-gov-eliot-spitzer-announces-end-his-marriage/ |title=Former NY gov Eliot Spitzer announces end of his marriage |date=December 25, 2013 |publisher=[[Fox News]] |agency=[[New York Post]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225211628/http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/12/25/former-ny-gov-eliot-spitzer-announces-end-his-marriage/ |archive-date=December 25, 2013 |access-date=December 30, 2013}}</ref> Spitzer had a romantic relationship with [[Lis Smith]], a spokeswoman for then-New York City Mayor-elect [[Bill de Blasio]]. She had been Spitzer's spokeswoman during his 2013 run for comptroller.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/25/nyregion/spitzer-and-his-wife-say-their-marriage-is-over.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |title=Spitzer and His Wife Say Their Marriage is over |first=Michael M. |last=Grynbaum |date=December 24, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/19/nyregion/lis-smith-girl-bashed-out-of-a-job-in-mayors-office.html |work=The New York Times |title=A Tabloid Bashing, and a Lost Job With the Mayor |first=Ginia |last=Bellafante |date=January 17, 2014 |quote=Ms. Smith was prepared for the negative press attention she knew she would receive as Mr. Spitzer's girlfriend, she told me. 'But what has been so hurtful is that so much of the viciousness has come from women,' she said, citing not just the tabloids but a patronizingly maternal piece in Time citing the foolishness of her choice, as if erotic selection always conformed to rational sense.}}</ref> The relationship ended in 2015. In 2019, Spitzer announced his engagement to Roxana Girand, founder and president of real estate agency Sebastian Capital.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-09-30|title=Former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer engaged|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/former-new-york-gov-eliot-spitzer-engaged|access-date=2021-02-22|website=Washington Examiner|language=en}}</ref> The couple planned an April 4, 2020, wedding, and even obtained a marriage license in March 2020, but postponed the nuptials because of COVID-19 concerns.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Smith|first=Emily|date=2020-03-16|title=Eliot Spitzer and fiancée Roxana Girand cancel big NYC wedding over coronavirus|url=https://pagesix.com/2020/03/16/eliot-spitzer-and-fiancee-roxana-girand-cancel-big-nyc-wedding-over-coronavirus/|access-date=2021-02-22|website=Page Six|language=en-US}}</ref> ==See also== * ''[[Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer]]'' – film about Spitzer * ''[[Inside Job (2010 film)|Inside Job]]'' – documentary on the [[financial crisis of 2007–2008]] * ''[[The Good Wife]]'' – fictional television drama partly inspired by events associated with Spitzer and his wife * ''[[Zipper (film)|Zipper]]'' – 2015 film, a political thriller that thinly dramatizes the Eliot Spitzer scandal. {{Portal bar|Biography|New York City}} ==References== {{reflist}} ==Further reading== * [[David Paterson|Paterson, David]] (2020). ''[[Black, Blind, & In Charge: A Story of Visionary Leadership and Overcoming Adversity]]''. New York. ==External links== {{Sister project links|wikt=no|b=no|s=no|v=no}} '''Biographies and profiles''': *[https://web.archive.org/web/20050311045354/http://www.time.com/time/archive/preview/0,10987,1003960,00.html "TIME Crusader of the Year 2002: Eliot Spitzer"], by Adi Ignatius, December 21, 2002, issue of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' *[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3745334.stm "Corruption probe hits US insurers"] – [[BBC News Online]], October 15, 2004. *[http://www.brookeamasters.com/ "Spoiling for a Fight: The Rise of Eliot Spitzer"] by Brooke A. Masters (Times Books, July 2006) *[http://ssrn.com/abstract=877488 "The Small Laws: Eliot Spitzer and the Way to Insurance Market Reform,"] by Sean M. Fitzpatrick, 74 Fordham L. Rev. 3041 (2006) '''Interviews''': * [http://www.ora.tv/politicking/does-eliot-spitzer-deserve-second-chance-n-y-governor-makes-case-enter-public-arena-0_sgo5ghrx Eliot Spitzer on "Politicking with Larry King"] *{{cite news | title = Eliot Spitzer Talks Re-Building His Image and Not Regretting Tough Decisions | first = Allison | last = Kugel | author-link = Allison Kugel | url = http://www.pr.com/article/1167 | publisher = PR.com | date = December 13, 2010 }} *[https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/wallstreet/interviews/spitzer.html ''Frontline: The Wall Street Fix''] – from the [[PBS]]-series ''[[Frontline (PBS)|Frontline]]'', dated April 16, 2003. *[https://www.pbs.org/now/politics/spitzer.html ''NOW with Bill Moyers'': New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer] – Streaming video and transcripts of Spitzer's multiple interviews on the [[PBS]] series ''[[NOW (series)|NOW with Bill Moyers]]''. *[http://www.nrdc.org/onearth/04fal/briefings2.asp "The Pollution Buster"] – Interview with Elizabeth Kolbert in Fall 2004 issue of ''OnEarth Magazine'', publication of the [[Natural Resources Defense Council]] *[http://www.democracynow.org/2009/12/4/eliot_spitzer_geithner_bernanke_complicit_in Eliot Spitzer: Geithner, Bernanke "Complicit" in Financial Crisis and Should Go] – video report by ''[[Democracy Now!]]'' *[http://bigthink.com/ideas/18417 Big Think Interview With Eliot Spitzer] – video interview with BigThink.com, dated January 28, 2010. *[https://archive.org/details/openmind_ep1801 "The Sheriff of Wall Street"] 2004 video interview with Eliot Spitzer, on "The Open Mind" '''Media coverage''': *{{C-SPAN|58715}} *{{newseum front page archive|day=13|year=08|month=03}} *[http://www.breakinglegalnews.com/search/spitzer Breaking Legal News – Eliot L. Spitzer] Collection of News of Eliot Spitzer *[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3745334.stm "Corruption probe hits US insurers"] – BBC coverage of Spitzer's probe of insurance industry practices, October 15, 2004. *[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3945079.stm "Spitzer targets music companies"] – BBC coverage of Spitzer's prosecution of payola, October 22, 2004 *[http://www.gregpalast.com/elliot-spitzer-gets-nailed/ Greg Palast, ''Eliot's Mess''] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20080509135352/http://www.writersvoice.net/2008/03/podcast-64-greg-palast-on-spitzer-and-the-bank-bailout-also-field-report-on-narrative-journalism/ Greg Palast interview on Spitzer scandal timing] '''Critics''': *[https://archive.today/20050413005053/http://www.federalismproject.org/agwatch/ Attorney General Watch] – blog of the [[American Enterprise Institute]], a [[conservative think tank]], critical of Eliot Spitzer and other state attorneys general. *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070218143244/https://www.cato.org/research/articles/reynolds-041022.html "Not Spitzer's Job"] – article by [[Alan Reynolds (economist)|Alan Reynolds]], senior fellow of the [[Cato Institute]], a [[Libertarianism|libertarian]] think-tank. Reprinted from ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' *[http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110008324 The Passion of Eliot Spitzer: Is he telling the truth as he tries to "take people out"?] by Kimberley A. Strassel, ''The Wall Street Journal'', May 2006 *[http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2006/05/the_passion_of_eliot_spitzer.html Eliot Spitzer's Real Agenda... is Eliot Spitzer] By Kimberley A. Strassel, ''The Wall Street Journal'', May 2006 *[http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/2008/03/11/power-corrupts-elliot-spitzers-record-as-ny-attorney-general/ "Power Corrupts: Elliot <nowiki>[sic]</nowiki> Spitzer's Record as N.Y. Attorney General"] By Alan Reynolds, Cato-at-liberty, March 8, 2008. '''Reports''': *[http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/0310082spitzer1.html FBI affidavit regarding the Emperor's Club VIP scandal] *[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/13/AR2008021302783.html "Predatory Lenders' Partner in Crime"]. Spitzer, Eliot, ''[[The Washington Post]]'', February 14, 2008. '''Companies''': *Eliot Spitzer serves as [https://www.tipranks.com/ TipRanks] board member. TipRanks provides online investing tools allowing private investors to see the measured performance of financial analysts. {{s-start}} {{s-ppo}} {{s-bef|before=[[Karen Burstein]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[Attorney General of New York]]|years=[[1998 New York Attorney General election|1998]], [[2002 New York Attorney General election|2002]]}} {{s-aft|rows=2|after=[[Andrew Cuomo]]}} |- {{s-bef|before=[[Carl McCall]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[Governor of New York]]|years=[[2006 New York gubernatorial election|2006]]}} |- {{s-legal}} {{s-bef|before=[[Dennis Vacco]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Attorney General of New York]]|years=1999–2006}} {{s-aft|after=[[Andrew Cuomo]]}} |- {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=[[George Pataki]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Governor of New York]]|years=2007–2008}} {{s-aft|after=[[David Paterson]]}} |- {{s-prec|usa}} {{s-bef|before=[[George Pataki]]|as=Former Governor}} {{s-ttl|title=[[United States order of precedence|Order of precedence of the United States]]|years=}} {{s-aft|after=[[David Paterson]]|as=Former Governor}} {{s-end}} {{Eliot Spitzer}} {{Governors of New York}} {{New York State Democratic Committee}} {{NYSAttorneyGeneral}} {{Dot-com Bubble}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Spitzer, Eliot Laurence}} [[Category:Eliot Spitzer| ]] [[Category:1959 births]] [[Category:Antitrust lawyers]] [[Category:American people of Austrian-Jewish descent]] [[Category:American television talk show hosts]] [[Category:CNN people]] [[Category:David Paterson]] [[Category:Democratic Party governors of New York (state)]] [[Category:Governors of New York (state)]] [[Category:Harvard Law School alumni]] [[Category:Horace Mann School alumni]] [[Category:Jewish American attorneys]] [[Category:Jewish American state governors of the United States]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:New York (state) Democrats]] [[Category:New York State Attorneys General]] [[Category:New York County Assistant District Attorneys]] [[Category:Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison people]] [[Category:Politicians from the Bronx]] [[Category:Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom people]] [[Category:Slate (magazine) people]] [[Category:2000 United States presidential electors]] [[Category:2004 United States presidential electors]] [[Category:Princeton School of Public and International Affairs alumni]]'