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ABC News: Spitzer, Not the Prostitution Ring, Was the Subject of Investigation | 70 comments (70 topical)

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A question and a thought (5.00 / 2) (#16)
by Iphie on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 07:44:06 PM EST
For the lawyers here, what does this new info mean practically? If it is highly unlikely that he would be charged with a crime regarding the actual prostitution, is it more likely that he would be for structuring financial transactions? How serious is it and do the reasons for the structuring play any part when deciding to bring charges?

Secondly, I'm watching a local political chat show and they are clearly unaware of this new information. They (the they being journalists) are mostly saying they think he will resign. I think that the fact that he was the target of this investigation and not just a collateral player changes the dynamic. I think it gives him room to say that this is a political witch hunt. I wonder.

If this turns out to have been (5.00 / 1) (#22)
by andgarden on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 07:50:45 PM EST
a political witch hunt, he could be saved. It's too bad that the people of NY had soured on him already.

[ Parent ]
Even if it was a political witch hunt (5.00 / 1) (#30)
by litigatormom on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 08:00:37 PM EST
it seems like he really did use prostitutes. Not sure he can survive that politically even if the genesis of the investigation was a politically motivated structuring investigation.

However, perhaps the Bush DOJ investigation should be broadened.

[ Parent ]

It is curious (none / 0) (#20)
by Jeralyn on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 07:47:45 PM EST
especially because they held off on having a grand jury indict. Maybe they are trying to squeeze Spitzer to plead to an information charging structuring and threatening they will take it to a grand jury on the more serious Mann Act charge if he doesn't.

[ Parent ]
Structuring (5.00 / 1) (#27)
by litigatormom on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 07:58:34 PM EST
Unless I am missing something, the amounts and frequency of the withdrawals don't sound like structuring to me. That may be what they started looking for, stumbling onto the Mann Act issues.

[ Parent ]
So, (none / 0) (#51)
by Andy08 on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 09:47:16 PM EST
do you think that they didn't have enough for the structuring really but that by threatening w/Mann Act they could force a plea on structuring?

[ Parent ]
Could I also ask... (none / 0) (#44)
by Oje on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 09:15:21 PM EST
The money transfer discussed in the affidavit "disappears" for what looks like a day. Could a sting operation intercept that money, hold it until Spitzer crossed state lines, and then release it once he is in DC to set up the implied Mann Act charges? If the deal/arrangement had been made in New York, would the Mann Act still be applicable?

Also, when did the bank report Spitzer? I assume at the beginning, October 2007, but if it comes later than the whole operation was not triggered by the bank...

[ Parent ]

oops, "later than that" (none / 0) (#48)
by Oje on Mon Mar 10, 2008 at 09:42:18 PM EST


[ Parent ]

ABC News: Spitzer, Not the Prostitution Ring, Was the Subject of Investigation | 70 comments (70 topical)

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