"The governor who was going to bring ethics back to New York state, if he was involved in something like this, he's got to leave," Tedisco said. "I don't think there's any question about that."
As questions swirled about Spitzer's political future, a swarm of reporters gathered outside the office of Lt. Gov. David Paterson, who by law would become governor if Spitzer resigns. But his staffers provided no information.
The man described as Client 9 in court papers arranged to meet with a prostitute who was part of the ring, Emperors Club VIP, on the night of Feb. 13. Spitzer traveled to Washington that evening, according to a person told of his travel arrangements.
The affidavit says that Client 9 met with the woman in Room 871 but does not identify the hotel. Spitzer stayed at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington on Feb. 13, according to a source who was told of his travel arrangements. Room 871 at the Mayflower Hotel that evening was registered under the name George Fox.
The law enforcement official said that several people running the prostitution ring knew Spitzer by the name of George Fox, though a few of the prostitutes came to realize he was the governor of New York.
Fox is a friend and donor to Spitzer. Asked in a telephone interview yesterday whether he accompanied Spitzer to Washington on Feb. 13 and Feb. 14, Fox responded: "Why would you think that? I did not."
Told that the Room 871 at the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel was registered in Fox's name but with Spitzer's Fifth Avenue address, Fox said, "That is the first I have heard of it. Until I speak to the governor further, I have no comment."
Federal prosecutors rarely charge clients in prostitution cases, which are generally seen as state crimes. But the Mann Act, passed by Congress in 1910 to address prostitution, human trafficking and what was viewed at the time as immorality in general, makes it a crime to transport someone between states for the purpose of prostitution. The four defendants charged in the case unsealed last week were all charged with that crime, along with several others.
Spitzer had a difficult first year in office, rocked by a mix of scandal and legislative setbacks. In recent weeks, however, Spitzer seemed to have rebounded, with his Democratic Party poised to perhaps gain control of the state Senate for the first time in four decades.
