Spitzer Prostitute Poses for Playboy as Former New York Governor Mulls Political Comeback

ABC News’ Teddy Davis reports: Ashley Dupre, the former high-priced call-girl who brought down New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D), has posed for Playboy Magazine in a “sultry” 8-page nude pictorial which hits newsstands on Friday.  “I was an escort,” Dupre tells Playboy. “As much as I wish I could make that go away, I can’t. I’m trying to take it as a lesson learned. I am not proud of what I’ve done.”

Dupre’s Playboy spread comes at an inconvenient time for Spitzer: the former New York governor has been mulling a political comeback of late. According to a recent interview with Fortune Magazine, Spitzer views New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, the Democrat appointed to fill Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s former Senate seat, “as a lightweight.” Democratic strategists believe, however, that Spitzer’s best bet for making a comeback would be to first run for a low-profile down-ballot statewide office such as New York state comptroller. Spitzer is intrigued by the idea of running for state comptroller because it would allow him to wield billions held in public pension funds to force corporate reform in a way that even lawsuits and regulation cannot. “It is the great underutilized position in government right now,” Spitzer told Fortune. It’s been two years since Spitzer was caught on a federal wiretap arranging to meet with Dupre at Washington’s Mayflower Hotel. The controversy resulted in Spitzer stepping down from office and turning the state over to Lt. Gov. David Paterson (D), who went on to become the nation’s first legally blind governor. Since the Spitzer scandal erupted on March 10, 2008, Dupre has penned a relationship advice column for the New York Post, launched a music career, done charity work, and started a new pop culture and relationship blog — StilettoSuicide.com. Dupre’s Playboy spread made headlines last month when a few strands of her hair caught fire. During the photoshoot with photographer Stephen Wayda, while Dupré lay down surrounded by candles, ‘a few strands of her hair caught on fire because of all the hairspray," a set source told People Magazine. ‘The hairstylist Jorge Serrano was the first one to notice and rushed over to put it out with his hands.’” When asked about the aftermath of her relationship with Spitzer, Dupre told Playboy: “Some people call me the girl who brought down the governor of New York, but in reality he brought me down.” On watching the Spitzer scandal publicly unfold, Dupre said: “I saw the hurt in his wife’s eyes. I felt as if I had jumped off a building. I couldn’t breathe. I was dead.” On being an escort, Dupre said: “You have to be emotionally disconnected . . . That line of work looks to be the easy way out, but it’s not, because you’re sacrificing your brain and your identity. It’s emotionally damaging.” In her interview with Playboy editor-at-large Christopher Napolitano, Dupre also discusses her first experience being paid for sex. “I was at a club one night, and a rich older guy said to me, ‘I’ll give you a thousand dollars if you come home with me,’” said Dupre. “I was like, Wow, a thousand dollars sounds good. But I was scared. Really scared. Is he going to pay me? Is he going to beat me up? . . . I made $1,000, and it was no different from sleeping with someone while I was high. Looking back on it, I realize I didn’t have any self-respect.” When asked about the Tiger Woods scandal, Dupre said: “I feel bad for his family. These girls are coming out, and they’re asking to be brought into it.” Dupre told Playboy that she is confident about her sexual talents but maintains that in the future, there will be no money involved.  “I love sex and I’m very good at it, but I’m saving that,” said Dupre. “That’s for my future boyfriend from now on. And it will be fabulous.” ABC News’ Deana Mitchell and Matt Loffman contributed to this report.