Emperors Club VIP

Emperors Club VIP
Company type	Private
Industry	Escort service
Founded	2004
Founder	Mark Brener, Cecil Suwal
Defunct	2008
Headquarters	New York City, United States
Area served	International (New York, Washington, Miami, London, Paris)
Products	Escort services

On March 10, 2008, The New York Times revealed that Eliot Spitzer, then Governor of New York, had utilized the services of a prostitution network managed by the escort firm Emperors Club VIP. A federal inquiry exposed Spitzer's participation through intercepted communications. In the wake of these revelations, Spitzer stepped down from his gubernatorial position, effective March 17, 2008.

Emperors Club VIP

Emperors Club VIP was an international escort service headquartered in New York City, established in 2004 by Israeli entrepreneur Mark Brener and his associate Cecil Suwal. The enterprise conducted its financial operations under the names QAT Consulting Group, Inc., and QAT International, Inc.

The agency's website showcased a roster of fifty escorts, each rated between three and seven diamonds, available for appointments in cities including New York, Washington, Miami, London, and Paris. Hourly rates varied from US$1,000 to US$5,500 based on the escort's rating; the highest tier—seven diamonds—could command fees up to US$31,000 per day. Clients could settle payments via cash, credit card, money order, or wire transfer.

In March 2008, Emperors Club VIP ceased operations following a federal probe into questionable financial activities connected to the organization.

Reported clientele

Eliot Spitzer, then Governor of New York, allegedly expended more than US$80,000 on Emperors Club VIP services over a two-year span. Despite his previous emphasis on ethics and his efforts to prosecute prostitution rings, Spitzer resigned amid accusations of hypocrisy and looming impeachment.
Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster and at the time the third wealthiest individual in the UK, was claimed by a former escort to have been a client. His legal representatives refuted these allegations, asserting he was not present in London on the dates cited.

Investigations

The probe into Spitzer originated after North Fork Bank flagged suspicious financial activity to the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, pursuant to the Bank Secrecy Act enhanced by the Patriot Act aimed at thwarting money laundering. Over six months, Spitzer engaged with at least seven prostitutes affiliated with Emperors Club VIP, disbursing over $15,000. Federal authorities conducted surveillance on him twice in 2008. Reports suggest that during his terms as attorney general and governor, he spent as much as $80,000 on such services.

Identified as "Client 9" in a federal affidavit, Governor Spitzer arranged an encounter at Washington’s Mayflower Hotel on February 13, 2008 with "Kristen," later revealed as 22-year-old Ashley Dupré. Spitzer agreed to cover all associated expenses including travel and lodging. Following the meeting, he paid $4,300 in cash which encompassed a $1,100 deposit for future engagements with Emperors Club VIP.

The Mayflower Hotel room 871 was reserved under the alias "George Fox," linked to an acquaintance from hedge fund circles. This detail emerged from wiretap evidence obtained by the Department of Justice. According to Newsday, Spitzer attempted to transfer over $10,000 to a front company tied to the prostitution ring but structured payments deliberately below reporting thresholds. When he sought to cancel these wire transfers, the bank refused; this led to an IRS Criminal Investigation Division inquiry initially focused on potential extortion or identity theft.

A July 2007 report by North Fork went unnoticed until HSBC submitted a related report connecting transactions with offshore shell entities QAT International and QAT Consulting Group—both fronts for Emperors Club VIP. Subsequently, the IRS alerted the FBI about potential political corruption involving money transfers directly linked to the escort service. Prior to Spitzer’s involvement becoming public knowledge, prosecutors had charged four operators of Emperors Club VIP with violations of the Mann Act.

In November 2008, federal prosecutors opted not to pursue Mann Act charges against Spitzer.

Public disclosure and resignation

On March 7, 2008, The New York Times disclosed the arrest of four individuals connected to Emperors Club VIP, a global online prostitution operation.

Three days later, on March 10, the Times identified Governor Eliot Spitzer as "Client 9," revealing that he had been recorded on a federal wiretap arranging a meeting with an expensive escort at a hotel in Washington. That same day, Spitzer addressed the media in a press conference, expressing remorse for his conduct and admitting to betraying the trust of both his family and the public:

I have behaved in a manner that breaches my responsibilities to my family and violates any sense of right and wrong. My foremost apology is to my family. I also apologize to the public, to whom I made promises of better conduct. I have let down those expectations and failed to meet the standards I hold myself to. I must now focus on rebuilding my family's trust.

In response to these revelations, New York State Assembly Republican Minority Leader James Tedisco and Congressman Peter King demanded Spitzer's resignation, with Tedisco warning of impeachment if he refused to step aside. Neither Spitzer’s office nor the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York commented on any potential resignation deal.

Facing increasing pressure, Spitzer declared on March 12, 2008, that he would resign from the governorship effective March 17. During a press event in Manhattan, he stated:

I cannot permit my personal mistakes to interfere with the work entrusted to me by the people. Throughout my public career, I have rightly insisted that individuals take responsibility for their actions. I expect no less from myself. Therefore, I am stepping down as governor.

Lieutenant Governor David Paterson assumed office following Spitzer’s departure, serving out the remaining three years of the term.

Reactions

The scandal involving Spitzer's involvement with prostitution gained widespread international coverage. George Fox, a close confidant and political donor whose name had been used without permission as an alias by Spitzer, denied any participation beyond this misuse and expressed disappointment while confirming that Spitzer had privately apologized.

Nell Minow, an expert in corporate governance, observed that Wall Street’s response was generally favorable, reflecting widespread disdain for Spitzer among financial professionals. Having built his political reputation on commitments to "ethics and integrity" and prosecuting multiple prostitution rings, his implication in such a scandal was seen as a profound betrayal by women’s rights advocates and anti-human trafficking organizations who had previously supported him.

Philosopher Martha Nussbaum remarked that Spitzer’s wrongdoing was primarily a private matter rather than a public offense and criticized the antiquated nature of the laws he had broken.

By 2011, The Guardian summarized Spitzer’s rise and fall: once hailed as the "Sheriff of Wall Street" for combating financial misconduct and advocating for labor rights, he became New York’s governor in 2006 with prospects for national leadership. However, his career ended suddenly amid scandal, earning him the nickname "Luv Guv" and marking a dramatic downfall rooted in personal lapses.

"Kristen"

Known professionally as Ashley Dupré, "Kristen," aged 22, was an emerging pop singer based in Manhattan. She was identified as one of the escorts connected to Spitzer and became a central figure in the ensuing media frenzy. After the revelations, she expressed that she did not wish to be portrayed as a "monster," describing the experience as both "challenging" and "complex."

The intense media coverage opened doors to lucrative opportunities, including a $1 million offer from Hustler for a nude photoshoot, alongside other informal proposals from Penthouse. Eventually, she appeared in Playboy in May 2010.

Political impact

On an international level, Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster, a billionaire British nobleman, was implicated when prostitutes associated with the Emperors Club alleged his involvement. This controversy prompted his resignation from the position of Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Reserves and Cadets) within the British Ministry of Defence.

2013 New York City Comptroller election

In 2013, both Spitzer and Kristin M. Davis, a madam linked to the prostitution scandal but not connected to the Emperors Club VIP, sought election as New York City Comptroller. Davis secured the Libertarian nomination but later withdrew following a drug-related arrest. Spitzer’s well-known name generated discussion regarding its influence on the race. Ultimately, he was defeated in the Democratic primary by Scott Stringer, with a margin of 52.1% to 47.9%.

Depictions in media

The scandal served as the basis for Alex Gibney’s 2010 documentary Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer, which debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival and was also featured at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival.
The March 26, 2008 episode of South Park titled "Major Boobage" satirized the events surrounding the scandal.
The legal drama The Good Wife, which premiered in 2009, drew partial inspiration from this controversy.

External links

Emperors Club VIP