Eliot Spitzer: "The People's Lawyer"-Disgraced

As attorney general for the State of New York, Eliot Spitzer went after Wall Street's masters of the universe, air-polluting power plants, gun manufacturers, and organized crime. His relentless efforts earned him such accolades as "Crusader of the Year," "Sheriff of Wall Street," and "The Enforcer." Spitzer used his exemplary record as attorney general to win the 2006 race for governor by a record margin. His fourteen-month tenure as governor was marked by conflict, failure, allegations of abuse of office, and lying. On March 12, 2008, Spitzer resigned in the face of an investigation into his involvement with high-priced prostitutes. This article examines how someone once viewed as an ethical exemplar could fall so far in so short a time and considers what those who attempt to assess exemplars can learn from this case.