Former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer is back in the news and it could not be more bizarre. This week Spitzer was accused of allegedly threatening to stab a restaurant patron’s crotch for stating that he respected Spitzer’s nemesis, Home Depot founder Kenneth Langone. Jamie Antolini says that Spitzer yelled “I’ll get a f**king knife and stab you right in your f**king cock!” Spitzer resigned as Attorney General after disclosure of his patronage of high-end prostitutes.
Antolini said that he drew the ire of Spitzer by saying Langone was an “amazing guy” and that “Ken Langone should have been president.” He said that after Spitzer said he would stab Antolini in the cock, Spitzer left but came back to the table to make additional abusive comments.
Restaurant security was reportedly called and Antolini says that there is a videotape. Lisa Linden, Spitzer’s spokeswoman, said that Spitzer was out for this mother’s 90th birthday and that it was Antolini making the aggressive remarks. She denies Spitzer made any threats.
The most surprising confirmed fact? Eliott Spitzer still has a spokesperson.
Spitzer was a liberal icon in New York and viewed as something of an avenging angel of the left. After his demise, friends in the media and business worked to try to rehabilitate him. He was given a series of jobs and media gigs at CNN and MSNBC. He tried and failed to win the primary for city comptroller in 2013. Then in 2016, Spitzer was accused of assaulting a young woman in a $1000 a night hotel room. Spitzer was already under investigation after he was accused of choking a Russian woman at the Plaza Hotel.
Svetlana Zakharova Travis, 25, has been identified by New York media as a $5000 a night prostitute who previously wrote about her work as a call girl, including an article entitled “Sex is Sex, but Money is Money.” However, Travis later recanted her charge against Spitzer after fleeing to Russia. She was then arrested at JFK International Airport on charges of grand larceny by extortion. Prosecutors claim that Spitzer paid her roughly $50,000 to keep secret certain “intimate details” of their relationship. Travis also faced later forgery and identity theft charges. What was most damaging from the Travis affair was the indication that Spitzer may be continuing the pattern of self-destructive and potentially illegal conduct with prostitutes that led to his resignation.
The latest controversy will likely turn on that videotape. There could be a basis for assault charges if these allegations are correct. However, as shown in the Travis matter, it is important to not jump to assumptions about Spitzer’s culpability. The Plaza incident reflects how celebrities like Spitzer are under a constant public lens. We have not heard from the other witnesses on whether Andolini was being rude and taunting Spitzer as the later was trying to have a dinner with his mother. The only thing that we know fo sure is that clearly someone is lying.
As for the possible charges, this could be assault in torts but in criminal law it would likely be charged as something like public disorder or menacing as shown below (which can be a felony or a misdemeanor). Given the fact that no weapon is alleged to have been brandished, it would seem at best a weak misdemeanor case (and one that I would view as unnecessary):
S 120.14 Menacing in the second degree. A person is guilty of menacing in the second degree when: 1. He or she intentionally places or attempts to place another person in reasonable fear of physical injury, serious physical injury or death by displaying a deadly weapon, dangerous instrument or what appears to be a pistol, revolver, rifle, shotgun, machine gun or other firearm; or 2. He or she repeatedly follows a person or engages in a course of conduct or repeatedly commits acts over a period of time intentionally placing or attempting to place another person in reasonable fear of physical injury, serious physical injury or death; or 3. He or she commits the crime of menacing in the third degree in violation of that part of a duly served order of protection, or such order which the defendant has actual knowledge of because he or she was present in court when such order was issued, pursuant to article eight of the family court act, section 530.12 of the criminal procedure law, or an order of protection issued by a court of competent jurisdiction in another state, territorial or tribal jurisdiction, which directed the respondent or defendant to stay away from the person or persons on whose behalf the order was issued. Menacing in the second degree is a class A misdemeanor. S 120.15 Menacing in the third degree. A person is guilty of menacing in the third degree when, by physical menace, he or she intentionally places or attempts to place another person in fear of death, imminent serious physical injury or physical injury.
How he ever managed to escape the wrath of the law in the bimbo encounter of his is still puzzling
Spitzer is a fool to allow himself to be provoked so easily – I can imagine the fun this dude Langone must have every time he sees him. Something wrong with him – with all that money he could have easily flown to another country to engage with hookers – he must have wanted to be caught.
Spitzer is the New Weiner !
More like he is the pre-Weiner weiner
https://jonathanturley.org/2018/01/10/spitzer-accused-of-threatening-man-in-restaurant-for-complimenting-home-depot-founder/comment-page-2/#comment-1691549
Get a grip, bam bam.
Did you say, “democrat wack jobs?”
Thanks George for the entertaining script. Typical or the crazy left. I can’t believe the number of times he used the F word. Don’t these people have any self-control?
Wow. Spitzer really, really appears to hate Home Depot. I mean, I understand how frustrating it is to wander down deserted aisles unable to find an employee, but this is ridiculous.
“There could be a basis for assault charges if these allegations are correct.” Why? Did he actually stab him in the pee-pee? (I actually didn’t know a man could even bear to make that threat to another man. You would think he would cringe in empathy for his opponent at the very thought.) I was unclear in the following paragraph if the crime of menacing is considered assault, or the level below assault.
“However, as shown in the Travis matter, it is important to not jump to assumptions about Spitzer’s culpability.” Is this because a high priced prostitute accepted hush money? We do not know if he actually tried to strangler her, and she sold her silence, or if she lied about it and it was a fake shakedown. She sold her body, why not either her silence on an assault or her silence on a fabricated story? Who knows? At the very least it appears that he used a prostitute. One can understand why he is divorced.
As for whether Andolini was being rude to Spitzer, who was out to dinner with his elderly mother, how does the owner of Home Depot come up in casual, passing conversation? You cannot threaten to stab someone in the genitals when they are rude. That’s the whole argument against Antifa – you cannot justify violence because you were offended; only if you are in danger.
“Antolini said the argument lasted about 20 minutes before Spitzer was escorted out of the Greek restaurant. He said he did not see Spitzer carrying a knife and will not file a police report with the NYPD.” -Newsweek
End of story?
The family’s real estate holdings, some years back, were reported to be worth around one billion, not to mention the millions and millions of dollars not even associated with the real estate empire. A very, very wealthy family. A very, very influential and powerful family, despite the fact that this lunatic fell from grace. You don’t think that his family still wields an enormous amount of influence and power? Don’t kid yourself. You are satisfied that the victim will not be filing a police report. . .as in, no harm, no foul? Lol! Right. There are lots and lots of reasons not to take on this wealthy and oh, so connected turd. Lots. Like, let’s say. . .more than a billion.
Like da Kushners and da Trumps.
Precisely. All families possessing immense material wealth. Immense power. All of that wealth and power, however, didn’t save Spitzer. All of the wealth and power, however, didn’t save Kushner’s father from doing time in prison. Yes. All of these families must answer, at some point and in some manner; however, mentioning that the purported victim did not wish file a police report means nothing. It doesn’t negate what happened. It doesn’t erase the psychotic and threatening behavior. It doesn’t prove a thing, unless, the one thing that is trying to be conveyed is that money, speaks. Power, speaks. The victim doesn’t want to get into a legal match with this wealthy turd and have to battle the power that he would, inevitably, face, if he got involved in a legal matters, where the family could out spend this no body, in a heartbeat.
“The world’s a complicated place, ” bam bam.
These two — Spitzer and Antolini — have a history…and things aren’t always as they seem.
Switzer seems to have a history with all sorts of people. . .this guy. . .high-level whores, who were abused and threatened by Switzer and forced to flee the country to escape him. . .ahh, yesss. . .all sorts of histories. . .
Tell me, oh wise one–when is it okay to threaten to stab someone in his genitalia? What kind of history allows for that? Condones that? Sanctions that? I’ll answer, as I know that you will not. . .there is no history, as you put it, that would excuse this behavior. This grotesque and obscene threat of bodily harm. He will walk, unscathed, because the victim doesn’t want to get drawn into the power and influence that Switzer could use to impact and affect his life. Bottom line. Pretty simple. Spitzer, no doubt, will end up killing or seriously hurting someone. . .just a matter of time.
Let’s see the recording.
You don’t, SEE, a recording, you, HEAR, a recording. Are you often wearing a microphone when you go out to dinner? Are there tapes of your conversations, where you were taped, while dining? Why would you expect that there would be one here, in this situation? Very odd. While, I assume, that there is no recording of this interaction, I would be willing to bet that there were multiple–yes, multiple–witnesses, seated, or standing, in the restaurant who could corroborate these allegations. Again, no one wants to tangle with this family. No one. Nothing to gain–only something to lose. No one wants to stick his neck out.
You do, if there’s video recording…, but let’s say: see and/or hear.
““I never left my seat. When the video tapes come out, it will show I sat in my chair with a glass of wine in my hand,” said Antolini.”
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/manhattan/eliot-spitzer-accused-threatening-stab-man-c-k-article-1.3745889
You “assume” too much, bam bam.
http://blogs.marketwatch.com/greenberg/2008/03/what-role-did-langone-play-in-spitzers-fall/ Spitzer thinks billionaire political activist Langone set him up.
Yes. Spitzer, the perverted darling of the libs, was set up. A victim. Poor baby. Yes, and those who decided to set him up implanted a chip in his brain. Those who set him up programmed the chip in order to make the words, about stabbing a man in the penis, emerge from Spitzer’s mouth. He was no more than a puppet. An unfortunate and manipulated puppet, with no control of his emotions and no control over his behavior. Spitzer is a normal, sane and rational individual, whose only flaw is that he is being controlled. Manipulated. Programmed to burst out in violent fits of madness in public places, no less. Yes. I suspect that you have been hanging around with the bag lady, who lives on the corner, who, incessantly, spouts that the government has implanted chips in her brain and her molars, directing and controlling every move. Every reaction. I suppose that you are part of the crowd which subscribes to the theory that the government is manipulating us via secret codes on the boob tube. Well, at least you have company.
The fact that someone remained seated, with a glass a wine, does not mean that there was no altercation. It does not mean that he wasn’t threatened with bodily harm. I assume too much? Lol! Says the person who called Alan, an idiot. You fail to think things through, to their logical conclusion.
“You fail to think things through, to their logical conclusion.”
Bam Bam, anonymous doesn’t have the intellect to do so and lacks the ability to understand that a mouth is not a good substitute for a brain.
Maybe you’ll get it this time, bam bam:
“Antolini also claims there is cell phone video of the argument.” -breitbart dot com link
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/01/09/disgraced-new-york-gov-eliot-spitzer-now-accused-threatening-stab-man-ck/
“After overhearing the comment, Antolini claimed that Spitzer jumped into a spirited debate about Langone that got increasingly heated and lasted up to 20 minutes. Antolini also claims there is cell phone video of the argument.
“Spitzer’s alleged threat seemed to be simple bravado as he reportedly made no move to threaten anyone physically. Also, no police report was filed over the threat.”
So:
“cell phone video” (Got it, bam bam? Cell. Phone. Video.)
“Video.”
“Antolini also claims there is cell phone video of the argument.” -breitbart dot com link
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/01/09/disgraced-new-york-gov-eliot-spitzer-now-accused-threatening-stab-man-ck/
“After overhearing the comment, Antolini claimed that Spitzer jumped into a spirited debate about Langone that got increasingly heated and lasted up to 20 minutes. Antolini also claims there is cell phone video of the argument.
“Spitzer’s alleged threat seemed to be simple bravado as he reportedly made no move to threaten anyone physically. Also, no police report was filed over the threat.”
So:
“cell phone video” (Got it, bam bam? Cell. Phone. Video.)
“Video.”
The victim is refraining from filing a police report. Get that? Refusing to do so. Get that? Don’t be such a simpleton to assume that a threat didn’t exist. Get that? Understand that people refuse to press charges for all sorts of reasons. Get that? If this was nothing–just boys being boys, threatening to stab one another’s penis–there would be no story. No issue. This was more than that. There are, presumably, witnesses, as well. Silence. Get that?
Get a grip, bam bam.
Money can keep ya out of Rikers Pops Kushner went to a high class joint. His son could end up at da same cushy joint. Read da elder Spitzer went to da hookers like T rump. Don’t know that they were Russian.
I do not know if Spitzer’s disgusting comment was criminal, or if Andolini walked up to him having dinner and got into an argument. If it is a criminal complaint, then Andolini would not pay the legal expenses. He would, however, be dragged into court for what could amount to considerable time. If it was a civil matter, he would be on the hook for expenses. I am not an attorney, and so do not know if this was actionable, or merely shockingly rude.
What this does illustrate, if true, is that Spitzer has serious anger management issues. I think the tape will be edifying.
By the way, why do we still call them “videotapes” or “tapes”? It’s hard to explain to my kiddo what a tape refers to in the age before digital.
His father’s worth is estimated at 500 million. This is dwarfed by the wealth of some of his enemies, including Langone and Grasso. This does not even including some of the largest financial/insurance companies that paid billions in fines for corruption when he was NY AG. Marsh had to lay off 20 percent of their staff after paying the highest fine in insurance business history for illegal dealings.
Spitzer has plenty of wealthy and connected enemies, to be sure.
And, plenty of wealthy and connected friends and allies.
“The world’s a complicated place, ” bam bam.
That’s right, anonymous, it sure is a complicated place. That’s why the decision, of the victim, to back off and not file a police report, is also complicated. It’s far, far more complicated than just viewing his decision to abstain from filing a report on this creep as an admission that nothing, of any substance, occurred. I’m sure that he refrained from filing a report for a myriad of reasons. A myriad of reasons.
There’s more to this story than meets the eye.