Spitzer faces trial for using call-girls

When Eliot Spitzer stood down as Governor of New York in March, following revelations that he had been a customer of a call-girl service, many felt that would be the end of the matter. Not a bit of it. According to the New York Post, the federal case against him is so strong that prosecutors have no interest in striking a cooperation agreement and it now looks likely he will stand trial.

Prosecutors have records of Spitzer's transactions, phone records and taped conversations with the Emperors Club, through whom he hired the call-girls, and are confident they can now prosecute him on charges that will include violating prostitution laws and money laundering. Unwisely, Spitzer paid for the girls by sending money to the Emperors Club's offshore account using his own credit card. The investigation is also looking into claims that the former state governor may have used campaign funds to pay for the prostitutes.

Mark Brener, the man who ran the Emperors Club and organised Ashley Alexander Dupre and a second call-girl for Spitzer, is to plead guilty on Thursday without the "sweetheart deal" he was hoping for. He is expected to be jailed for up to 30 months on money laundering and prostitution conspiracy charges. Spitzer, if charged and found guilty, could theoretically follow him into the state pen. ·