From the New York Times:
No Federal Charges Against Spitzer
“The United States attorney in Manhattan, Michael J. Garcia, announced on Thursday afternoon that no federal charges will be filed against former Gov. Eliot Spitzer of New York, who resigned in March in a scandal over his role as a customer of a prostitution ring.
After 14 months in office, Mr. Spitzer, a Democrat, resigned on March 12, 2008, after his role as a client of the prostitution ring, known as the Emperor’s Club V.I.P., became known. Mr. Spitzer’s resignation brought an abrupt close to a tenure marked by an almost unbroken string of stumbles and frustrations.
Federal prosecutors had been investigating whether Mr. Spitzer committed a crime known as structuring, or making payments in such a way as to conceal their purpose and source, by wiring money into a bank account controlled by the prostitution ring. That account — in the name of an entity called QAT Consulting — and another bank account were used to launder more than $1 million worth of proceeds derived from the prostitution ring, Mr. Garcia said in his statement on Thursday. Prosecutors also looked at whether Mr. Spitzer had used campaign money to pay for prostitutes.
The federal investigation found no evidence of misuse of public or campaign funds and found “insufficient evidence” to charge him in relation to the payments. Under the Mann Act, it is a federal crime to transport prostitutes across state lines, but charges under that act are rare.”
Spritzer gets no charges? I can’t say I’m surprised. But what about Temeka Rachelle Lewis, the booker for the Emperor’s Club? She pleaded guilty. Is she getting off the hook? I doubt it.
—
From WUSA9:
Secret Service Officer Arrested In Prostitution Sting
“A Secret Service officer was arrested early Saturday during a prostitution sting conducted by D.C. police in Northwest.
Inspector Brian Bray, commander of Metropolitan Police Department’s Narcotics and Special Investigations Division (NSID), says his squad was conducting a prostitution sting in the area of 11th and K Sts NW around 12:50 a.m. when a marked Secret Service Uniformed Division patrol car stopped to speak with an undercover female officer who was posing as a prostitute.
The patrol car was driven by a Uniformed Division sergeant who was in uniform. Insp. Bray said the NSID officers assumed he was going to tell the undercover female officer to leave the area.
But the sergeant allegedly engaged the female officer in dialog, mentioned how attractive she was, and inquired about what sex acts she would perform. They agreed on a price of $20 and he drove around the corner to meet with her.”
Yet another reason why prostitution should be decriminalized. People from all walks of life hire prostitutes. Even those who work at the White House!
But $20?! That should have been the first clue the deal was a set up.
—
From XBiz:
Texas AG Drops Adult Toy Case Appeal
“Thanks to the Texas attorney general’s decision to drop the appeal in the Reliable Consultants Inc. case, adult toy sellers are no longer peddling illegal products in Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana.
U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel let that fact be known in a two-page document dated Oct. 29, in which he wrote that Texas attorney general’s office has notified him by telephone that his office would not file a writ of certiorari — an appeal — in Reliable Consultants Inc. vs. Texas.
The three states comprise the jurisdiction of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal, where Texas would have filed the appeal if it decided to do so.”
After the Prop 8 passed and Prop K didn’t at least there’s some good sex news to report. It was absurd that in 2008 dildos were illegal to buy in this country.
—
As I was finishing up this post I decided to check my email. It’s a good thing I did. Reader Tinka sent me this story.
From News Durham Region:
Lesbian couple attacked by man outside Oshawa school
“Classes had just let out Monday at Gordon B. Attersley elementary school on Attersley Drive, according to the couple.
Ms. Dimitriou said she was helping her son put his backpack into the car when another student’s father came toward her and began yelling.
He referred to her and Ms. Currie as men, she said, as she recounted what happened.
Ms. Dimitriou said the man swore at her, called her a slang word for lesbian in an aggressive and derogatory way, then “out of nowhere” spit in her face and punched her.”
(snip)
“The saddest part for the couple, still recovering from their own injuries, is the lasting impact it might have on their 6-year-old son and the other children who were just a few feet away.”
It will definitely have an impact. Hopefully all of the parents whose children saw this violence will educate their children on gays and tolerance. Earlier today I was talking to a friend about something similar. She told me about a time she saw members of the Klu Klux Klan and said this made quite the impact on her, teaching her much about race relations. As sad as this event is maybe it can be turned into an opportunity to educate.
Thank you Tinka for sending me this story! If other readers want to send me news to blog about please do! Email me at radicalvixenatgmaildotcom
Posted by Vixen as News at 11:15 PM CST