photo courtesy Lindsay Beyerstein

At a press conference earlier today, Governor Eliot Spitzer admitted his involvement as a client in a prostitution scandal. According to The New York Times, Spitzer’s office was notified last Friday that the governor had been named as the suspect in a federal wiretap investigation that intercepted a phone call arranging for a high-end prostitute to be sent from New York to Washington, D.C., where a person referred to as Client 9 had rented a hotel room. Client 9 was found to be Gov. Spitzer, who spoke briefly today, making no mention of any decisions regarding his political future. During the press conference, Spitzer’s wife, Silda, stood beside him.

Spitzer released a statement hours after the story broke, saying that he “acted in way that violates his obligation to his family.”

“I apologize first and most importantly to my family,” Spitzer said. “I apologize to the public, to whom I promised better… I am disappointed that I failed to live up to the standard I expected of myself.”

Spitzer has been deemed “a rising star” among the Democratic party, according to CNN, for his efforts to root out corruption, bust white-collar criminals and tackle organized crime.

Last October, Spitzer spoke to the students of Fordham College at Lincoln Center and addressed “morality and practicality.” He spoke about his platform to provide driver’s licenses to people without social security numbers, and health insurance to all children.

More updates to come.