ALBANY, N.Y. -- Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who gained national prominence by relentlessly pursuing Wall Street wrongdoing, has been caught on a federal wiretap arranging to meet with a high-priced prostitute at a Washington hotel last month, according to a law enforcement official and a person briefed on the federal investigation.
The wiretap captured a man identified as Client 9 on a telephone call confirming plans to have a woman travel from New York to Washington, where he had reserved a hotel room. The person briefed on the case and the law enforcement official identified Spitzer as Client 9.
Spitzer, a first-term Democrat, made a brief public appearance yesterday during which he apologized for his behavior, and described it as a "private matter."
"I have acted in a way that violates my obligation to my family and violates my or any sense of right or wrong," said Spitzer, who appeared with his wife, Silda, at his Manhattan office. "I apologize first and most importantly to my family. I apologize to the public to whom I promised better.
"I have disappointed and failed to live up to the standard I expected of myself. I must now dedicate some time to regain the trust of my family."
Before speaking, Spitzer stood with his arm around his wife; the two nodded and then strode forward together to face more than 100 reporters. Both had glassy, tear-filled eyes, but they did not cry.
The governor spoke for perhaps a minute and did not address his political future.
He declined to take questions and promised to report back soon. As he went to leave, three reporters screamed out, "Are you resigning? Are you resigning?" and Spitzer charged out of the room, slamming the door.
The governor learned that he had been implicated in the prostitution inquiry when a federal official contacted his staff on Friday, according to the person briefed on the case.
The governor informed his top aides Sunday night and yesterday morning of his involvement. He canceled his public events yesterday and scheduled the announcement for this afternoon after inquiries from The New York Times.
The governor's aides appeared shaken before he spoke, and one of them began to weep as they waited for him to make his statement at his Manhattan office.
The Republican state party and a leading Republican legislator called for the governor to step down. James Tedisco, a Republican assemblyman from Schenectady who has clashed loudly and publicly with Spitzer, called on the governor to step down if the accusations are true.
