New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, the scourge of Wall Street, has been found to be arranging visits from prostitutes via a federal wiretap that was investigating the prostitution ring. From the New York Times:

ALBANY – Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who gained national prominence 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 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, according to an affidavit filed in federal court in Manhattan. The person briefed on the case and the law enforcement official identified Mr. Spitzer as Client 9.

Spitzer made a brief appearance at which he acknowleged error, and left without commenting on his political future.

Mr. Spitzer, a first term Democrat, today made a brief public appearance during which he apologized for his behavior, and described it as a “private matter.” He did not address his political future.

“I have acted in a way that violates my obligation to my family and violates my or any sense of right or wrong,” said Mr. 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.”

Spitzer was embroiled in a major controversy (scandal) right after his election, as he was found to be improperly using state police resources to dig up dirt on Republican Senate Leader Richard Bruno. Even State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, condemned his actions in the Bruno case. From the Times:

Calls for new inquiries have accumulated in the week since Mr. Cuomo’s office issued its report finding that the governor’s staff had misused the State Police to collect information about Mr. Bruno, the Senate majority leader, in an effort to plant a negative article about him in the news media. The report concluded that no laws had been broken, and Mr. Spitzer, a Democrat, has maintained that he was misled by his staff and knew nothing about the effort to discredit Mr. Bruno, the state’s top Republican.

Spitzer has long been a target of the Wall Street Journal editorial page for his hard hitting attacks on major corporate icons during his tenure as New York’s Attorney General. The Wall Street Journal editorial page tommorow will not be a pretty sight for fans of Eliot Spitzer. Spitzers take no prisoner style has even alienated key members of New Yorks Democratic establishment, and with blood in the water Spitzer is not likely to find many friends on either side of the aisle. This must be a day of great satisfaction for Richard Bruno, Senate Majority Leader.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/23562560#23562560