Gubernatorial Fail

Spitzer resigns, capping stunning fall
N.Y. governor — ‘Client 9’ — was allegedly repeat prostitution customer
Associated Press, March. 12, 2008

ALBANY, N.Y. - On Saturday night, Gov. Eliot Spitzer was at the annual Gridiron Club dinner in Washington, where President Bush serenaded reporters with a funny song about leaving office. By then the governor knew full well he could be leaving first.

A day earlier, federal prosecutors had told the governor he had been snared in a prostitution operation, according to senior Spitzer aides who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Indictment For Governor Of Kentucky
The New York Times, May 12, 2006

Ernie Fletcher of Kentucky, a Republican, was indicted yesterday on charges that he illegally rewarded political supporters with state jobs.

Mr. Fletcher, who is charged with three misdemeanors -- criminal conspiracy, official misconduct and violating the prohibition against political discrimination -- has denied any wrongdoing and has accused the state attorney general, Gregory D. Stumbo, a Democrat, of being politically motivated in his investigation.

Ohio's Gov. Taft Faces 4 Misdemeanor Charges; Indictment Cites Unreported Gifts
The Washington Post, August 18, 2005

Ohio Gov. Bob Taft (R), a member of one of the most distinguished families in American politics, was indicted yesterday on four criminal misdemeanor counts for failing to report a series of golf outings, dinners and other gifts in a scandal that has rocked the powerful state Republican Party.

The violations carry maximum penalties of a $1,000 fine and six months in prison, although it is doubtful the governor will face prison time for the ethical lapses. But the damage to Taft's reputation and to the party's fortunes could be far more severe, political analysts said.

Rowland Begins Serving a Yearlong Prison Sentence
The New York Times, April 2, 2005

John G. Rowland, who was Connecticut's youngest governor and who was a rising star in Republican politics, entered a federal prison camp in western Pennsylvania on Friday morning to begin serving a yearlong sentence.

Mr. Rowland, 47, who was governor for more than nine years before resigning last July amid an impeachment inquiry and a federal corruption investigation, will be known as Inmate No. 15623-014.

New Jersey governor quits, comes out as gay
CNN, Friday, August 13, 2004

(CNN) -- Dropping a political bombshell, New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey announced his resignation Thursday after revealing that he is gay and that he had an adulterous affair with a man.

Former Governor Ryan Is Indicted in Illinois;
Racketeering and Fraud Are Alleged
The Washington Post, December 18, 2003

Former Illinois governor George H. Ryan, nominated this year for the Nobel Peace Prize, was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday on charges of racketeering, mail and tax fraud, and lying to law enforcement officials.

Federal prosecutors alleged that Ryan improperly accepted free vacations, passed confidential information to friends who used it for personal gain, and brokered side deals for a personal cut of public contracts. The value of the gifts, services and loans allegedly totaled $167,000. Ryan is also charged with directing more than $300,000 worth of gifts, services and loans to a friend, hiding the transactions and then lying about them to investigators.

"The state of Illinois was for sale," U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald said at a news conference this afternoon. "It was cronyism. People were given inside information, and they acted on it. . . . He knew he was breaking the law."

I know there are still some people hot on profiling swarthy people at airports, but wouldn't it make more statistical sense to wiretap all 50 governors?