Berlusconi Faces Prostitution Probe

Bunga, bunga

(NEWSER) - Embattled former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi made a surprise appearance at his own criminal trial today. Berlusconi is not legally required to attend the trial, which concerns the allegation that he hired an underage prostitute. But he showed up anyway to observe and during a break decided to tell journalists outside that "girls … women are by nature exhibitionists," reports the Guardian . More»

Investigators hand over 227-page dossier in case

(NEWSER) - Things keep getting messier for Silvio Berlusconi: Now prosecutors claim there’s a second underage girl mixed up in his series of sex scandals. Brazilian showgirl Iris Berardi was just 17 when she visited the Italian prime minister at his summer villa and his palazzo, prosecutors hold. Meanwhile, another woman in the scandal—currently under investigation for finding prostitutes for the PM—has been taped calling him “a piece of ----,” the Telegraph reports. More»

Could face 15 years in prison

(NEWSER) - Police are officially investigating Silvio Berlusconi over allegations that he paid a 17-year-old girl for sex, and have asked him to come in for questioning, prosecutors in Milan announced today. He’s also accused of attempting to use his position as prime minister to pressure police to sweep the matter under the rug. He hasn’t been charged with anything yet, but if he is, and if he’s convicted, he’ll face 15 years in prison, the Guardian reports. More»

'Greatest Italian PM in history' hits back at sex scandal allegations

(NEWSER) - Silvio Berlusconi says he's the best prime minister Italy's ever had and resigning has never crossed his mind, despite a string of sex scandals, the Wall Street Journal reports. Berlusconi scoffed at claims by businessman Giampaolo Tarantini that he invited women to Berlusconi's parties and paid them to sleep with with the prime minister, saying that while he had certainly been at the same events as Tarantini, where there were plenty of attractive women, he'd never paid for sex in his life. More»

(NEWSER) - Silvio Berlusconi's antics with models and call girls have threatened to derail his government, but the woman at the center of the sex-and-corruption scandal says she's seen it all before. "This is how Italy always works," Patrizia D’Addario tells the Financial Times. The hooker says she came forward to protect herself and recounts how her house was robbed by burglars who stole her underwear and photos from the PM. More»