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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009
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House Panel To Investigate Spitzer Probe

Dems wonder if feds' prostitution sting was politically motivated

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(Newser) – The House Financial Services Committee is poised to open an inquiry into the investigation that led to Eliot Spitzer’s resignation, the New York Times reports, with Democratic members wondering aloud if the federal probe could have been a politically motivated hit job. The former New York governor was not charged in the prostitution scandal, so the inquiry will be the only detailed examination.

The investigation was headed up by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Treasury’s police arm. The House committee, chaired by Barney Frank, has asked the director of the organization about bank records that led to Spitzer. Treasury has not answered, preferring to give the information in hearings likely next year. Spitzer’s bank, and that of the prostitution ring, are also involved.

Former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer.
Former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer.   (AP Photo)
Ashley Dupre, the former call girl for ex-Gov. Eliot Spitzer.
Ashley Dupre, the former call girl for ex-Gov. Eliot Spitzer.   (AP Photo)
Spitzer in 2007.
Spitzer in 2007.   (AP Photo)
House Financial Services Chairman Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass.
House Financial Services Chairman Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass.   (AP Photo)
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The question was: Why were they looking for this? Is this political retribution? It raises questions in my mind that he may have been targeted for political purposes. - Rep. Michael E. Capuano,
Massachusetts Democrat

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4 comments
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Sammy
Nov 25, 08 4:48 PM CST
In light of the financial crisis, I suspect it was a political witch hunt. Spitzer was no friend of Wall Street and they obviously had a lot to hide. He warned about these problems we are now witnessing some time ago. Reply
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iamthereama
Nov 28, 08 12:04 AM CST
The Atlantic Monthly had a great article about the man, written when he was still AG. Apparently he made a lot of enemies on Wall Street. It's funny he dedicated his tenure as AG to wiping out corruption, only to show he was pretty darn crooked himself.
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Snarfeh
Nov 25, 08 8:52 PM CST
I'm a Democrat & I love that Spitzer was cleaning up corruption, but Rep. Capuano is asking the wrong questions. The real questions are, why did Spitzer do something so stupid and why did he think he would get away with it in a political arena where what you do vs what you preach will come out? Our government is broke enough without WASTING more taxpayer money on this silly inquisition. Damn right it was politically motivated. Spitzer should have been clean. Period. Reply
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petepenguin
Nov 27, 08 11:49 PM CST
He fried himself.He didn't need any help. Reply
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