Criminal charges against former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer are unlikely in connection with an allegation he roughed up a woman Saturday night in his suite at the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan, law enforcement sources said.
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“The victim has indicated that the subject is Eliot Spitzer”, the New York Police Department said in a statement released Sunday.
Spitzer’s lawyer, Adam S. Kaufmann, said the 26-year-old woman had told hospital staff that the former governor had choked her in an attempt to avoid hospitalization for emotional issues.
Spitzer, through a spokeswoman, denies the allegation. “I just read the news, I’m so sorry”, she said, offering to send a statement to the police “that my report was all fake”.
The newspaper reports the woman is in her 20s and from Russian Federation. Police have not interviewed Spitzer, one of the law enforcement sources said.
It’s unclear when Spitzer got to know Svetlana Travis, if the two were indeed dating, or whether the nature of his relationship with Smith was monogamous. She sustained a small cut to the top of her wrist during the commotion, which prompted hotel officials to call police.
Police responded, and the 25-year-old woman said she was fine, but they noticed the cut on her arm and a broken glass and took her to a hospital.
The woman initially identified Spitzer as her assailant to officers, and then backed off, having second thoughts about pressing charges and has not been cooperative in the investigation. They said there may be video of Spitzer going up to the hotel with the woman. It was in 2008, when Spitzer resigned from office over a hooker scandal, saying afterwards, “the remorse I feel will always be with me“.
In 2013, Spitzer tried to resurrect his political career when he campaigned to be New York City’s comptroller.
The former governor has not been charged with any crime.
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Spitzer and his wife, Silda, have since divorced.
