The Spitzer investigation

While I certainly got a good chuckle out of the Spitzer news, I am rather intrigued by the question of why would a judge put his job on the line to approve the wiretap on the governor.

Surely, saying "we want to wiretap Spitzer because he's seeing call girls" wouldn't have been enough for a judge to go along.

It Wasn't the Sex; Suspicious $$ Transfers Led to Spitzer

The federal investigation of a New York prostitution ring was triggered by Gov. Eliot Spitzer's suspicious money transfers, initially leading agents to believe Spitzer was hiding bribes, according to federal officials.

Mind you, Spitzer prosecuted enough prostitution rings to KNOW that would be the sure way to get found out:

Spitzer, who made his name by bringing high-profile cases against many of New York's financial giants, is likely to be prosecuted under a relatively obscure statute called "structuring," according to a Justice Department official.

Structuring involves creating a series of financial movements designed to obscure the true purpose of the payments.

Prosecutors reportedly have a series of e-mails and wiretapped phone conversations of Spitzer.

In a interview two years ago, Spitzer, then-attorney general, told ABC News he had some advice for people who break the law. "Never talk when you can nod, and never nod when you can wink, and never write an e-mail because it's death. You're giving prosecutors all the evidence we need," he said.

He winked, he nodded, he email.

And he's not going to resign, even when he's exhausted all political goodwill. Whether the pressure from being investigated under the Mann act (for transporting prostitutes across state lines or persuading prostitutes to cross state lines for sexual purposes) by the Feds or by the state will force him to resign, remains to be seen.

For now he's staying put.

UPDATE
Today's WSJ editorial:

The stupendously deluded belief that the sitting Governor of New York could purchase the services of prostitutes was merely the last act of a man unable to admit either the existence of, or need for, limits.

In today's podcast at 11AM Eastern Rick Moran joins us to talk about Spitzer, and also about Barak Obama and Tony Rezko. I'll also rant about all these political "wee wifeys" standing by their men, too.

Chat will be open by 10:45 and the call in number is 646 652-2639. Join us!


UPDATE 2
The Governor, by the Competitive Enterprise Institute:




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