DOCUMENT: Evidence

Spitzer Shunned Accused John

Pol returned $50,000 donation from man indicted in prostitution case

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Spitzer Shunned Accused John

MARCH 12--Apparently concerned that he would be associated with a man facing prostitution charges, New York Governor Eliot Spitzer once returned a $50,000 campaign contribution from a political supporter who was charged in 2006 with paying women for sex.

On July 27, 2006, Spitzer's election committee sent back the contribution to wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was indicted days earlier in Florida on a felony solicitation of prostitution rap. The return of Epstein's donation was reported by the 'Spitzer Paterson 2006' committee in a filing with the New York State Board of Elections. An excerpt from that pre-primary filing can be found here.

Epstein, who has reportedly been negotiating a plea deal and related prison term, has been accused of paying several underage girls to engage in sex acts with him at his Palm Beach mansion, according to explicit Palm Beach Police Department reports.

Spitzer, 48, announced today that he is resigning his gubernatorial post, two days after he was outed as a repeat customer of a high-priced international call girl ring. (1 page)