photo courtesy SirKnight#4

Earlier today, and in the wake of accusations that he was involved in a prostitution ring, Governor Eliot Spitzer resigned from his post. On Monday, Spitzer’s resignation will go into effect and Lt. Governor David A. Paterson will be sworn in as the new governor.

At a press conference held at his Manhattan office, Spitzer had this to say:

“I have been given much: the love of my family, the faith and trust of the people of New York and the chance to lead this state. I am deeply sorry that I did not live up to what was expected of me.”

According to The New York Times, Spitzer’s decision comes after a Tuesday spent inside his Fifth Avenue apartment, deliberating with his wife, lawyers and close friends.

The legacy Spitzer leaves behind is one that differs greatly from the expectations placed upon him in recent years. In June 2005, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson called the then-New York Attorney General “the future of the Democratic party”.

But following today’s resignation, it seems as if it is Spitzer’s personal future that is in need of direction.