Spitzer prostitution wiretaps to be released

A Manhanttan judge has order the government to make public sealed documents about wiretaps in the Eliot Spitzer scandal involving a high-end prostitution ring.

U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff ordered prosecutors on Thursday to release documents detailing calls on cell phones used by the Emperor Club VIP whose clients included the former governor.

Rakoff ordered the documents to be released by Tuesday, which gives prosecutors a chance to appeal.

The New York Times sued late last year to get the material unsealed. The newspaper agreed to allow the government to withhold the names of 67 customers named in the documents.

Spitzer resigned last year after details were revealed of a tryst he had in a Washington hotel with a prostitute from the ring.

Investigators had been looking into the governor's affairs after noticing unusual activity -- later found to be payments to prostitutes -- in his bank accounts. Spitzer was tracked using court ordered wiretaps.

Court papers say Spitzer paid thousands of dollars to use the services of call girl Ashley Alexandra Dupre, and investigators say Spitzer met with Dupre on Feb.13, 2008 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington for sex.

Spitzer paid Dupre to take a train from New York City to Washington, which opened the transaction up to federal prosecution because she crossed state lines.

Spitzer, who is referred to as Client 9 in federal documents, was a repeat customer with the Emperor Club VIP.

D. Brian Blackwell