Gillibrand’s dilemma

U.S. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand with embattled New York Governor Eliot Spitzer. Gillibrand reportedly deleted all references to Spitzer from her website.

U.S. Representative Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, who once called on her 2006 opponent to return a campaign contribution from a strip club owner whose profession she considered morally offensive, is refusing to answer questions about whether she will return $5,000 in campaign contributions she received from embattled New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, the Majority Accountability Project (majorityap.com) has learned.

Gillibrand yesterday “would not respond” when asked by a reporter from the Glens Falls Post Star whether she would return Spitzer’s contributions. Gillibrand did, however, call on Spitzer to resign from office amid allegations he patronized a high-end prostitute while on state business in Washington, DC.

Additionally, the Post Star reported, “photographs of Spitzer and an endorsement statement were removed from Gillibrand’s campaign Web site Monday evening.”

While Gillibrand is not the only New York Democrat to receive campaign funds from Spitzer – there have also been calls for U.S. Reps. John Hall and Michael Arcuri to return their donations – she may be the only one to openly call for refunding campaign contributions from those she considers morally offensive.

In October, 2006, Gillibrand demanded that her opponent, then U.S. Representative John Sweeney, return $2,350 in contributions he received from the owner of a so-called “Gentleman’s Club” in Albany.

An indignant Gillibrand called such establishments “a real affront to parents like myself who are seeking to raise our children in communities free of such establishments,” according to a report in the Albany Times Union. She further criticized Sweeney for employing a retired New York State Trooper, who also owned a strip club.

Spitzer is expected to resign as early as today after reports surfaced this week that he hired prostitutes from a high-priced escort service. Spitzer is said to have “had at least seven or eight liaisons over the last several years with prostitutes,” costing as much as $80,000.

Recently unsealed FBI records include a transcript of conversations with Spitzer, believed to be client number nine, and the prostitute he hired, among others. Spitzer would “ask to do things that…you might not think were safe,” according to the prostitute who reportedly met the Democrat Governor last month at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC.