Text size:

Powerful men, brought low by sex

By Laura Berger | Special to amNewYork

New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer Linked To Prostitution Ring

New York Governor Eliot Spitzer speaks to the media with his wife Silda Spitzer while delivering an apology to his family and the public following reported links to the Emperors Club VIP prostitution ring March 10, 2008 in New York City. Spitzer apologized to his family and public during the press conference but did not directly address the reports of his being linked to a prostitution ring. (Mario Tama, Getty Images / March 10, 2008)

Gov. Eliot Spitzer, Sen. Larry Craig and President Bill Clinton were tarred by sex scandals. Here are some other notable episodes since 1990:

2007- In June, the "Canal Street Madam" in New Orleans claimed that Louisiana Senator David Vitter, a Republican, was a client of hers. In July, the client list of the "D.C. Madam" was published, and Vitter's number was among them but he was not charged.

2006: Florida Republican Congressman Mark Foley resigned after the revelation that he sent sexually explicit emails and instant messages to male teenage congressional pages. Before the scandal, Foley had been an outspoken advocate against child exploitation and proponent of "family values."

2004: New Jersey Gov.James McGreevey, a Democrat, announced his resignation after acknowledging an affair with a male worker.

2004: New York Assemb. Adam Clayton Powell IV was accused of sexual assault by a 19-year-old intern and, two months later, by a 38-year-old woman. No charged were filed in either case; Powell said the sex was consensual.

2001: Gary Condit, Democratic Representative from California, was investigated after an intern, Chandra Levy, disappeared. Condit confessed to police that they had had an affair but denied any link to her disappearance. In 2002 her body was found, but the case remains unsolved.

1995: Democratic Representative Mel Reynolds of Illinois resigns after being convicted a year before on charges of sex with a 16 year old girl who volunteered for his campaign. He was a married father of three.

1992: New York State's chief judge Sol Wachtler, a Republican, blackmailied and threatened his former mistress, Joy Silverman. Silverman contacted the FBI after Wachtler started calling her and threatening to kidnap her 14 year old daughter. He resigned and spent time in prison.

1990: Donald Lukens, a Republican member of the House of Representatives from Ohio was convicted of giving money and gifts to a 16-year-old girl in exchange for sex.