Ashley Alexandra Dupré has been ordered to testify about her tryst with the disgraced former New York Governor as prosecutors examine whether he used any campaign funds for his meetings with prostitutes.

Ms Dupré, also known as Ashley Youmans, has received a subpoena to appear behind closed doors before an investigating grand jury hearing the case against the Emperors Club VIP prostitution ring, her lawyer said in court this week.

The struggling singer was caught by an FBI phone-tap talking to an accused madam about her $4,300 (£2,150) encounter with a man refered to as Client 9, now identified as Eliot Spitzer.

Ms Dupré reportedly had several dates with the man she knew as “George Fox” but realised only during their last meeting that he was the New York Governor. The New York Post said that the shocked prostitute told her bosses: “Oh, my God! Do you know who this guy is?” Mr Spitzer resigned on Wednesday without striking a deal with prosecutors on his legal fate.

Negotiations between prosecutors and Mr Spitzer’s legal team appear to be on hold for authorities to determine whether any taxpayer money or campaign funds was misused — which Mr Spitzer denies. The New York Times reported yesterday that prosecutors were focusing on whether campaign funds were used in Mr Spitzer’s dealings with the high-priced call-girl ring.

Prosecutors have asked Mr Spitzer’s lawyers about the travel arrangements for three trips, including his tryst with Ms Dupré at the Mayflower Hotel, Washington, on the eve of Valentine’s Day, the newspaper said. Mr Spitzer reportedly used the escort service on trips to Dallas and Florida. He attended a fundraising event in Dallas in October and held another fundraiser to West Palm Beach last month. He is more likely to face charges stemming from his payments to the prostitution ring than from the sex itself.

Because Ms Dupre travelled by train from New York to Washington to meet him, he could also be charged under a 1910 law called the Mann Act that makes it illegal to induce prostitutes to cross state lines.

The scandal threatens to richochet into the presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton, who was endorsed by Mr Spitzer. Now Mr Spitzer’s infidelity has reminded voters of Bill Clinton’s own sexual meanderings. The comedian David Letterman got an easy laugh with his top ten list of excuses for Mr Spitzer’s conduct. The No 1 excuse: “I thought Bill Clinton legalised this years ago.”

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