FreedomAtStake's Blog

Spitzer won't be charged

By FreedomAtStake | View all Posts
Posted Monday, November 10, 2008 11:08 AM

7 comments

Yeah, I know this is a few days old, but I've been out of the country and blogging is not possible on my Blackberry.

In case you haven't seen it, here's the story.

My thoughts:

1) I guess I'm going to have to change my avatar.

2) It's good to see that his Daddy was able to give him a job. It wouldn't surprise me if this fact probably helps explain Spitzer's easy smugness and hypocrisy. The guy probably never had a minute in his life where he was actually worried about his financial future.

3) Frankly, if he wasn't mis-using public funds, then I don't think he should be charged either. Prostitution should be legalized and regulated (for health issues) anyway.

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help says:

11/10/08 12:26PM

wow, good to see our 'justice' system hard at work. I do agree that prostitution should be legalized, or at the least, decriminalized completely, as should marijuana

SarasotaSlim says:

11/10/08 12:54PM

Prostitution is not legal, and he did break the law ( Travel Act). The reason given for not charging him was that "the public interest would not be further advanced by filing criminal charges in this matter". Would not the public interest be better advanced if he was charged with breaking the law..........and given some sort of punishment ,be it minimal ....even some kind of community service.

There may not have been sufficient evidence to charge him for misuse of public or campaign funds, but with one person in jail and three more waiting trial for their part in the prositution ring ...his involvement is an incremental part of that ring... no customers no ring..

Breaking the law should not be dismissed by someone just saying "I apologized for conduct " and I am sorry for pain that I caused people ......it should only be part of the punishment not the only punishment for breaking the law............

FreedomAtStake says:

11/10/08 01:08PM

Slim,

You are correct. He did break the law.

The reason he wasn't charged for soliciting was because the DA's office has always had a policy of not charging the johns. If they DID charge him for soliciting, he'd get it thrown out of court for malicious prosecution.

The only way he was going to get charged was if he used public funds to pay for it.

Since he didn't use public funds - and you know, good on him for that - they aren't going to bother dragging it out in court and probably lose.

SarasotaSlim says:

11/10/08 01:57PM

FreedomatStake , I am quoting here :

" The Travel Act makes it a crime to travel in interstate commerce with the intention of, among other things, promoting, conducting or distributing the proceeds of unlawful activity (expressly including prostitution), if, after the travel, such an illegal activity is performed.

It would, for example, be a felony violation of the Travel Act (punishable by up to five years' imprisonment), to travel across state lines (or aid and abet a prostitute in doing so) for the purpose of promoting or carrying on the business of a prostitution ring; it would, similarly (and separately), violate the Travel Act to send the prostitute back across state lines to distribute the proceeds of the prostitution."

His actions are more than just soliciting..... it is said he helped to arrange for the events to happen.

Would he not be committing a crime in traveling in interstate commerce,and if this was gambling instead of prostitution would it be seen differently ?.....

FreedomAtStake says:

11/10/08 02:13PM

Slim,

I'm not disagreeing with you. He broke the law.

I'm just saying that if he didn't use public funds to pay the pros, then there wasn't a chance in hell that he would ever get charged.

Now, if he HAD been using public funds, then I'd be all for throwing the book at him, including your RICO-esque suggestions.

But let's put this in perspective. This case is only interesting because it's Spitzer, who showed a galling amount of hypocrisy and lack of judgement. And he faced a very public disgrace too.

But really, it's just a guy paying way too much for a hooker - and with his own money to boot.

As far as I'm concerned, he's already paid enough, although that won't stop me from making as many jokes about him as I can.

But I think pushing for jail time is a bit excessive. As long as he stays out of public service, I think the matter is settled.

I also don't want this to establish a precedent where the authorities start using arcane legal arguments to punish prostitution to the fullest extents of the law.

I just don't see it being necessary - and I don't want it to ruin my next trip to the tri-state area.

SarasotaSlim says:

11/10/08 02:35PM

I am not pushing for jail time either,just for charges of some kind for breaking the law ............where the money comes from to fund the act does not diminish the act .......if a person uses his own money to violate the law,the law is still broken.

If we have laws that are old and outdated, then change the laws..till then inforce the law......the law should not be selective in it's inforcement ,..........."Les Miserables" ............

FreedomAtStake says:

11/10/08 04:21PM

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User:	Freedom@Stake
Joined:	July 1995
Location:	Ireland
Team:	Florida State Seminoles
Occupation:	Media

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Spitzer won't be charged

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