Spitzer Resignation Not Tied to Deal With Prosecutors

Governor Spitzer's resignation was not tied to a deal with prosecutors who are investigating his liaisons with prostitutes.

"There is no agreement between this office and Governor Eliot Spitzer, relating to his resignation or any other matter," the Manhattan U.S. attorney, Michael Garcia, said in a statement sent via e-mail.

Legal experts had speculated that Mr. Spitzer would use his resignation to leverage prosecutors to not seek charges.

Mr. Spitzer, legal experts say, is vulnerable to charges of violating the Mann Act, which forbids transporting women across state lines for purposes of sex. Prosecutors are also investigating whether Mr. Spitzer committed financial crimes when making payments to an alleged prostitution service, Emperors Club VIP, according to news reports.

At a press conference in his Midtown office, Mr. Spitzer appeared with a prominent defense attorney, Theodore Wells, who represented Vice President Cheney's aide, Lewis Libby, in a criminal trial last year in Washington. It was the first indication that Mr. Wells was a member of his legal defense team. Also on Mr. Spitzer's legal team is his top deputy from when Mr. Spitzer served as attorney General, Michele Hirshman. Both Ms. Hirshman and Mr. Wells are members of the same New York firm, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP.

The extent of negotiations between Mr. Spitzer and Mr. Garcia's office is not clear.