lack of tennis

Spitzer Repudiates Claims in Former Senior Adviser’s Book

Just in case you’d forgotten about Eliot Spitzer in the midst of all this David Paterson scandal talk, a new book out next Tuesday will examine the former New York governor’s own scandal and resignation. Spitzer has already offered an angry response, refuting the book’s content.

Lloyd Constantine, Spitzer’s former senior adviser and old friend, is publishing Journal of the Plague Year on Tuesday, the first written account of Spitzer’s fall and his final days in office. Constantine, who is (unsurprisingly) no longer on speaking terms with Spitzer, reveals in the book that he was worried Spitzer might commit suicide in the days after the prostitution scandal broke. He also says he suggested to Spitzer that he enter sexual rehabilitation in Arizona in order to keep his job.

Spitzer has already spoken out about the upcoming release of Plague, rejecting Constantine’s claims.

What Mr. Constantine has written is little more than a self-serving and largely inaccurate interpretation of events mixed with unfounded speculation,” he said in a statement. “That such a close adviser and confidant of my family and member of my administration would choose to write such a book is a fundamental breach of trust.”


Constantine does offer one potential explanation for Spitzer’s adulterous behavior: a lack of tennis. Yep. Spitzer and Constantine ended their weekly game in 2006, as Spitzer was worried about further injuring a tender hamstring. This “deprived Eliot of an important physical release,” Constantine writes.

Book on Spitzer’s Downfall Sets Off Angry Replies [NYT]

Spitzer Repudiates Claims in Former Senior Adviser’s Book