NY Republicans threaten to impeach Gov. Spitzer

By Claudia Parsons

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York state Republicans threatened on Tuesday to impeach Gov. Eliot Spitzer if he does not quit over a sex scandal that has raised questions over whether he could face criminal charges.

The threat added to pressure on Spitzer, a Democrat and former state chief prosecutor who made his name fighting white-collar crime on Wall Street, to step down after a report that he hired a high-priced prostitute.

Local media cited sources saying Spitzer, 48 and married with three daughters, may resign as early as Wednesday.

"If he does not resign within the next 24 to 48 hours, we will prepare articles of impeachment to remove him," said James Tedisco, leader of the Republicans in the state Assembly.

"We need a leader in place that has the support of people on both sides of the aisle," Tedisco said.

Democrats hold a majority in the Assembly, and such a move toward ousting the governor would need some Democrats to vote with Republicans to produce the required majority vote.

The scandal broke publicly after The New York Times said on Monday that the governor hired a $1,000-an-hour prostitute and was caught on a federal wiretap at least six times on February 12 and 13 arranging to meet with her at a Washington hotel.

Spitzer apologized on Monday for what he described as a "private matter" but said nothing about resigning.

He neither confirmed nor denied the report.

Unidentified sources told New York's Newsday newspaper that Spitzer had as many as seven or eight liaisons over the last several years with prostitutes supplied by an international call girl ring based in New Jersey. For each encounter, Spitzer paid several thousand dollars, the sources told the newspaper.

Spitzer, once viewed as a rising star in the Democratic Party, spent the day at his Manhattan home with the media camped outside.

Despite the pressure to resign, Spitzer was undecided, a senior aide to the governor told the New York Sun newspaper.

"He has not made up his mind," Lloyd Constantine, the adviser, was quoted as saying. "It is more correct to say that he is not resigning."

Another source told the Sun Spitzer was trying to reach a deal with prosecutors over possible criminal charges.

Lt. Gov. David A. Paterson, who would assume the state's top post if Spitzer resigned, told The New York Times he had not spoken to Spitzer since Monday.