Eliot Spitzer, former NY governor and TV host, accused of choking a woman

Former New York governor Eliot Spitzer, who resigned in disgrace after being outed as “Client 9” in a now legendary sex worker scandal, is said to have choked a woman at The Plaza hotel in New York City. The New York Post broke the story, citing local law enforcement sources. After his fall from grace, Spitzer got a job as a CNN anchor. Here’s their report on the former news presenter’s new role as an accused physical abuser of women.

A 25-year-old woman alleged that Spitzer choked her inside a room at the Plaza Hotel on Saturday, two law enforcement sources briefed on the investigation told CNN. “The victim has indicated that the subject is Eliot Spitzer,” the New York Police Department said in a statement released Sunday. “Through an ongoing investigation, we are attempting to further establish the identity of the subject and the nature of the incident.”

The Plaza Hotel, midtown Manhattan. August 19, 2015. [Reuters]

The alleged victim’s name has been revealed elsewhere.

From The New York Daily News:

Sources said that after Spitzer allegedly attacked the woman at the Fifth Ave. hotel near Central Park, she tried to kill herself by slitting her wrists.

The unidentified woman knew Spitzer for about two years, a source said. Believed to be in her 20s, she is from Russia and the two may have been arguing about her returning there. She made the allegations after police responded to the hospital. Spitzer was no longer at the hotel at that point, the source said.

The woman apparently doesn’t want to press charges, but it’s up to police and prosecutors to determine whether any charges will be filed.