D.C. Madam Trial: Powerful Men Won’t Have to Testify?
EmailAt least three powerful men, including Sen. David Vitter, D-La., may not have
to testify about their involvement with a Washington, D.C. escort
service.
The attorney for accused "D.C. Madam" Deborah Jeane Palfrey said
he would rest his case today without calling any further witnesses, the
Associated Press reported. The prosecution is also expected to rest its case
today, Preston Burton told the news service.
Earlier in the case, Burton
had indicated he might call to the stand Vitter, former senior State Department
official Randall Tobias, and military strategist Harlan Ullman — all men whose
numbers appeared on phone records of Palfrey’s business. None have been
called.
While the trio will apparently be saved the embarrassment of
publicly describing their encounters with Palfrey and her women, many
lesser-known figures have not been so lucky.
Three lesser-known men who were former clients
were called by prosecutors to testify they had sex with women dispatched by
Palfrey. Several women who worked for Palfrey were also compelled to testify, in
exchange for immunity from prosecution.
The witness’ responses under
oath have comprised a litany of unhappiness and pain, making coverage of the
trial less titillating than traumatic. "More Winces Than Thrills" was the
headline of a Washington Post story this morning, which called the lengthy
testimony from the former escorts "just a long, sad parade."
Palfrey
maintains she ran a "sexual fantasy" escort service and prohibited her employees
from engaging in any illegal activity, including intercourse with clients for
money.
Vitter has previously acknowledged his involvement with the
service; Tobias told ABC News a year ago he had used Palfrey’s agency "to have
gals come over to the condo to give me a massage" but did not have sex with
them.
Ullman, whom Palfrey described as "a disagreeable character," told
reporters last year that the appearance of his number in Palfrey’s business
phone records was "beneath the dignity of comment."
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So anybody do anything bad and they automatically become a democrat , is that traditional media stuff ?
Posted by: ac-n-nc | April 14, 2008, 7:29 pm 7:29 pm
There’s a typo on here…Vitter is a Republican, not a Democrat.
Posted by: Wesley Sebring | April 15, 2008, 5:45 pm 5:45 pm
SO THE “BOYS WILL BE BOYS” CREEDO RALLIES AGAIN. IF THIS WOMAN WAS FOUND GUILTY OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY; THEN ALL OF HER CUSTOMERS MUST BE PUBLICALLY NAMED AND CRIMINAL CHARGES LEVIED GAINST THEM!!!!! I AM SICK AND TIRED OF THE POLITICALLY CONNECTED AND OR RICH, SNAKING THROUGH THE BACK DOORS OF THE COURT HOUSE WHILE OTHERS PAY THE LEGAL CONSEQUENSES OF THEIR ILLEGAL ACTS.
THE WASHINGTON POST HAS A LEGAL DUTY TO PRINT ALL OF THE CLIENTS NAMES, THE CRIMINAL CHAGES LEVIED GAINST THEM AND THEIR TRIAL DATES. THE PUBLIC HAS HAD ENOUGH OF THE “SOCIAL ELITE” GETTING PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT!!!!! THIS COUNTRY MUST STOP REWARDING BAD BEHAVIOR . IT’S LONG OVER DUE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: DONALD MCNAUGHTON | April 16, 2008, 6:47 am 6:47 am
Our justice system really should work better than it does.
Posted by: Sidney Shands | April 23, 2008, 10:14 pm 10:14 pm
I wouldn’t doubt it if she (Palfrey)was intimidated by some of the men who used her services. Their political status, along with any form of threats or intimidation, could cause someone to go over the edge and ultimately commit suicide.
Posted by: TN | May 1, 2008, 2:11 pm 2:11 pm
P-L-E-A-S-E tell me the MEN who use these women also have sentences pending.
Posted by: orion | May 1, 2008, 2:20 pm 2:20 pm
She killed herself? Oh come on. When she could have brought down many powerful people? I don’t think so. How very convenient for all those caught up in the scandal that she would allegedly killed herself. This “story” doesn’t pass the smell test!
Posted by: Martha Fischbach | May 1, 2008, 2:50 pm 2:50 pm
More results from Government morality. The now happy elite think they have washed away their sins with the life of a beautiful person forced to make a living in a corrupt world. I know the legal system will do nothing, but wouldnt it be grand if some magazine picked up the story and started a subscription level photospread and background investigation on the now cheerful clients who have gone back to their evil ways. The magazine would make a fortune too$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Posted by: Ralph Michales | May 1, 2008, 2:59 pm 2:59 pm
I find it a sad world where people of high profile can and do commit crimes and come out smelling like a rose. This woman worked for them. Without there money she could not have gone as far as she did. And now she lie dead and they are scott free.
Posted by: Louise | May 1, 2008, 3:11 pm 3:11 pm
My deepest sympathy to Ms. Palfrey’s mother…
Time is to short for those who wait
Too swift for those fear
Too long for those who grieve
Too short for those who rejoice
But for those who love
Time is eternity
(Author ommitted)
Posted by: Saint Darwin Assissi's cat | May 1, 2008, 3:58 pm 3:58 pm
Oh Sure! Really, how much more of this cloak and dagger “murder you if you tell” stuff do we have to hear to become the dumbest people on earth. How convenient! She committed suicide??? NOT! Follow the names and you will know who was behind this death…the CIA death squad at work again and the wealthy scum bags go free? What about the male prostitutes who work as a page in the White House and all the lawmakers who use them? We are rotten from the core outward, and only God can rectify this mess we are in. In our society, you tell…you die! It is as simple as that! Julie Ann
Posted by: Julie Ann | May 1, 2008, 10:46 pm 10:46 pm
something is definitely wrong here; even with the murder of DC Madam you still have “several women…compelled to testify, in exchange for immunity from prosecution” AND phone records of obvious importance and relevance. So they just throw the case out? Not even looking into what went on? Oh wait.. the people who would have been were important, rich, and of anglo-saxon decent? Okay i stand corrected.i almost forgot how difficult it is to buy the truth, but how easy it is to buy a judge.
Posted by: ..AndTheWorldTurns | May 2, 2008, 1:01 am 1:01 am
What do you think the chances are that a criminal investigation will be conducted? How many people have been conveniently found murdered or committed suicide connected with high level politician misbehavior or having secrets? While she ain’t no Marilyn Monroe, as orion said earlier, this doesn’t pass the smell test.
Posted by: txchuck | May 2, 2008, 3:14 am 3:14 am
This is a very sad outcome for Jeane Palfrey, her mom, freedom and the validity of the American justice system. Jeane Palfrey committed no crimes, but–in lieu of evidence to the contrary–chose death at her own hands, in favour of having her life and freedom controlled by her moral inferiors.
Posted by: Charles Smyth | May 2, 2008, 5:51 am 5:51 am
It is all bad stuff maybe the men should have gone to their wives or lovers and maybe the lady would still be here.
Posted by: Martina | May 3, 2008, 6:25 am 6:25 am
So the Bush Administration is cracking down on prostitution… But what about murdering thousands of Americans for his billion dollar war. He’s just trying to make a name for himself in the history books regardless of the costs to the American people. While he’s cracking down on prostitution can the American people get universal health care or can he decrease the deficit. I think that would be a greater legacy than arresting some hookers and killing our brothers and sisters in packs over a war tht should have never escalated to this measure in the first place.
Posted by: Kayla | May 5, 2008, 8:22 pm 8:22 pm
Surprise! Surprise! Surprise! as Gomer Pyle USMC would say regarding the timely suicide of the so-called DC Madam.
Posted by: Fred Flintstone | May 13, 2008, 12:19 pm 12:19 pm