Mar 12, 2008 2:00 am US/Central
Calls For Spitzer's Resignation Grow Louder
No Deal Yet In Talks Between Governor, U.S. Attorney
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Gov. Eliot Spitzer is set to resign Wednesday, sources tell CBS station WCBS-TV.
Timothy A. Clary/Getty Images
The calls for Gov. Spitzer's resignation are growing louder. Investigators are now looking to see if the disgraced governor used tax dollars for trysts with high-priced hookers that may have cost more than $80,000.
There may have been as many as nine illegal assignations going back 18 months or more. There are also questions about the governor's security details - where were his state police escorts during all of the sexual escapades?
Spitzer doesn't have the luxury of playing deal or no deal. Experts agree that his involvement in a prostitution ring makes him damaged goods.
"I think his career is politically at an end," noted criminal defense attorney Ronald Fischetti told CBS station WCBS-TV in New York.
Sources tell WCBS-TV the governor knows this and is using his defense team, led by Michele Hirshman, to leverage his resignation against potential charges he may face.
When asked what the best-case scenario is for Spitzer, Fischetti said, "No charges, absolute resignation and contrition. I think the worst that could happen is a felony plea on a number of charges they could lodge against him."
Fischetti says that as a former prosecutor himself, Spitzer would not want to plead guilty to a felony that could carry jail time, like tax evasion, money laundering or bringing a prostitute across state lines.
"The main thing I would do is not plead to a felony because if he does that his law license is toast," Fischetti said. "He can't practice law anymore."
One reason the negotiations are taking so long is because U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia may want to make an example of Spitzer.
"It's very important that [Garcia] expresses to the public that everyone is treated alike and he doesn't charge someone who was the Attorney General and prosecuted crimes he will be subject to a lot of criticism if he lets [Spitzer] go because he was the governor," Fischetti said.
Albany sources say they expect a resignation and the swearing in of Lt. Gov. David Paterson on Wednesday, but, again, that depends on Spitzer cutting a deal.
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