Many people are talking about the poor passive wife who is standing next to him while he apoligises for being a douchebag and a cheat and all things unmentionable. Has any one considered that the lady knew and probably suspected that her husband was playing away? I think many of these women who are wronged in public know about such things but they keep shtum because they are asked to. So lets stop the poor me routine and let her grin it and bear it. At the end of the day, she has the option of leaving him to face the music.

Jessica, Coventry , United Kingdom

I still do not understand why his wife was standing next to him on Monday.
I'd be like listen Dude, take care of yer own sh.t!

robert, vancouver, bc

Mr. Spitzer is/was good at his job, but by paying for prostitution "services" in other states it makes this whole thing a federal offense (paying for an illegal activity across state lines or something like that, i don't know the exact law).

It's a shame, but not an uncommon fact. More marriages end in divorce than "death do us part" in the US...this guy just had more money and power to "get what he wanted"...

It will be interesting to see what happens....

John, Orlando, Florida, USA

Dear Cynthia Edwards, Huddersfield, United Kingdom, you think this toe-rag should keep his job? Even though he made his own moral crusade against others doing exactly the same thing? A man who condemned others and branded them criminals for doing what he did. A man pledged to clean up white collar criminals. A man who dragged his passive wife to face the humiliation in front of the press. A hypocrite on all levels. You think he should keep his job?! What planet are you from

John, Chichester, UK

I am sitting in my office in crime ridden South Africa contemplating leaving this country because of it corrupt leaders and systems and then I come upon this article and it soo disspointing to know that this sort of corruption is rife even in a First World Country. Are there no decent people left in the world? or is it that people who come into power just can't resist the evils of the world. What a shame. There really is no hope for the world.

M. G, South Africa

M G, Durban, South Africa

What is taking this sleaze so long to step down...Spitzers ethics alone should knock him off that soap box he stood on so proudly and so arrogantly... I hope they prosecute him as he so adamantly did and pushed for as the Attorney-General. "Clean up the Government" PLEASE. I hope and pray his wife and daughters are giving him HELL. There's three young ladies that are going to require some lying on the couch time.....

R.T. New York

Robert Tull, New York, NY

I am ashamed of Governor Spitzers lack of morality.

I am enraged by his misuse of government funds. It is his fault the MTA proceeded with the fare hike- when all we needed was for him to lobby to the government for 262 million. The entire time, he supported the hike- and in lieu of this atrocity I can see why.

I look forward to a new day, with a new Governor. The winds of change are blowing through this country and the air never smelled so sweet!

S Davis, Brooklyn, New York

Non-New Yorkers probably do not have a full appreciation of what an enormously self-righteous bully Spitzer was as a prosecutor and Attorney General. He made a career of ruining men for what were often extremely marginal transgressions. Knowing the public character of this man, it is hard not be cheered by this.

As far as the criminality of his conduct. He knows better than anyone where the proceeds of a criminal enterprise like this leads. Also, where was all this money coming from? My wife would probably have questioned my spending about $50,000 on illicit sex if I were using the family checkbook.

kevin, NYC,

I just love how some of the"Holier-than-thou" Europeans commenting to the above article try to create some feeling of moral superiority by questioning the concept of whether or not prostitution should be legal in the US. Clearly they do not hesitate to throw around comments about Puritanism or backwardness.

It is peculiarly troubling to know that these critics are the same hypocrites who would cringe in disgust if they found their own spouse, relative, or daughter, engaged in that sordid business.

Cuban Pete, Washington, DC, USA

My question is why do we always see the wives of these corrupt degenerates 'stand by their man'?" The message these women are giving us is that their physical and emotional well being ( and the well being of their children) is secondary to their husband's pathetic need for public approval. There is no honour in enabling criminal behaviour. There is no honour in standing by your man if he isn't man enough to live an honourable life.

Anna, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

We down in contentinal Europe will never understand all the fuss about a politician getting intimately involved with his secretary (see former deputy Prime Minister Prescott) or a call girl.
Nevertheless Spitzner should resign because as an Attorney General he applied vigorously America's ludicrous laws on prostitution while eventually being part of the picture.

carl van hoolandt, Lillois, Belgium

Well, at least the guy immediately owed up to it. Bill Clinton denied denied denied and never had the balls to owe up.

Murmel, Denver

Murmel, Denver, Colorado

Article is a bit vague as to the specifics of “unsafe sex” Spitzer liked to have with prostitutes. His behaviour seems foolish and very irresponsible, particularly to his wife. He was getting a bit too caught up with himself, something all politicians do with great capacity.

Kirst, Josi, SA

Carolyn - if he has been doing this for years, as you say, then it says a lot for the decency and discretion of the girls whom he went with than none has sold her story.

Possibly he could reciprocate -and blow away the present smell of hypocrisy- by seeking to liberalise the NY laws on prostitution.

David, London, UK

I gather that it is perfectly fine to some people that Spitzer, while Attorney-General, arrested prostitutes but now is being serviced by them. Apparently some people do not see the double standard. Spitzer campaigned as Mr. Clean, Holier-Than-Thou, above cleap sleaze - and now he is caught with his pants down. Hoisted on his own petard.

Nona, New York City, USA

Jonathan of London I am not sure you read the article properly. The man stands to be charged with breaking the law on two counts quite apart from serious errors of judgment and duplicity. How can someone in such a position, especially one who sits at the state bar, possibly stay in office?

Rob, Warfield, England

Is prostitution illegal in America? Weird.

MT, Sydney, Australia

Spitzer should have practiced what he preached and prosecuted others for! As Governor, he pledged to clean up the state's government, and he broke that promise. He should have respect for the process, the law, and tax payers and just step down. He should feel the need to save his family from any further embarrassment!

Steph, Rochester, NY

From what I have read he appears to be very good at his job. Therefore I think he should keep it, why ruin his life over this.

Cynthia Edwards, Huddersfield, United Kingdom

Prosecuting Prostitutes and then Patronising Prostitutes. Who can take his seriously any more?

robert peterson, melbourne, australia

It would be a career ender in the UK too Carolyn of NY. The Profumo Affair in 1963 is one example after the late War Minister's dalliances with the prostitute Christine Keeler led to a humiliating resignation. More recently Mark Oaten had to resign his position with the lib dems due to his alleged relationship with a rent boy.

Robert Baker, London, England

I thought we shouldn't discriminate against people because of their sexual preference?

Peter, London, UK

What century are we in? It's 2008 not 1908.

I m sure we all know people who have done similar or worse things and have not mentioned them.

We all need to stop being so judgmental. After all nobody is whiter than white.

He needs to try and save his marriage if he can and to do that he needs stability elsewhere. He may be a hypocrite but it shouldn't cost him his job. I suspect the pain of this is probably punishment enough for him.

Spitzer should stay in office.

Jonathan, London, England

What was he thinking? Apparently this has been going on for years. I don't know if his marriage can weather this storm, especially in light of the fact that he left a deposit for a future assignation.

This wouldn't be a career ender in certain other western nations, but the U.S. is still rather Puritanical about these matters and his political epitaphs are already being written.

Poor fool.

Carolyn Bongiorno, Glenham, NY U.S.A.

The front page of the New York Post was a picture of this dude, and a huge headline that read, "Ho No!" I can't stand puns, but I had to LOL

Karen Kraft, Santa Cruz, CA

Got nothing against sex. Got a big problem with hypocrites.

Furriskey, Singapore,

Democratic sleaze? What do you conservatives have against sex? Republican sleaze gets American soldiers killed.

David, Costa Mesa,

Good point Richard. Thank goodness the Republicans have no scandals with sex, drugs, infidelity, etc.

Joe, Ontario, Canada

It's not just Democratic sleaze, it's political sleaze. It's not restricted to the USA, and it's not restricted to party. Show me an honest politician and I'll show you a pig that can fly.

Paul Downes, Milton Keynes, Bucks

more Democratic slease so what's new

Richard K, Nottingham,