Pro-Family Anti-Gay Republican Senator admits patronizing Prostitutes

[Tock]

Here's a later news account -- This one quotes his wife saying that if her husband was caught in adultery, she couldn't be as forgiving as Hillary Clinton was will Bill . . .

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070710/...itter_dc_madam
Senator's link to 'D.C. Madam' exposed By CHARLES BABINGTON, Associated Press Writer
Tue Jul 10, 7:31 PM ET

WASHINGTON - Louisiana Sen. David Vitter said he had sinned and was sorry, hours after Hustler magazine told him his telephone number was among those disclosed by the "D.C. Madam."

The first-term Republican senator declined interview requests Tuesday, and he made no public appearances in the Capitol. The night before, he'd made a startling confession in an e-mail to The Associated Press:

"This was a very serious sin in my past for which I am, of course, completely responsible. Several years ago, I asked for and received forgiveness from God and my wife in confession and marriage counseling."

Vitter, 46, and his wife Wendy live in the New Orleans suburb of Metairie with their four children.

He recently played a prominent role in derailing an immigration bill backed by President Bush. He also is a key supporter of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani's presidential bid, serving as regional campaign chairman for the South.

Vitter's statement said his number was on phone records of Pamela Martin and Associates before he ran for the Senate in 2004. Federal prosecutors have accused Deborah Jeane Palfrey of racketeering by running a prostitution ring that netted more than $2 million over 13 years, beginning in 1993. She contends that her escort service, Pamela Martin and Associates, was a legitimate business offering sexual fantasies.

Palfrey's lawyer, Montgomery Blair Sibley, said in an interview that the call from Vitter's number to the escort service was made Feb. 27, 2001.

Vitter, a Harvard University graduate and Rhodes Scholar, spent six years in the House — beginning in January 1999 — before being elected to the Senate.

Sibley confirmed that author Dan Moldea, who is writing a book with Palfrey, discovered the number connected to Vitter in Palfrey's phone records, which she has publicly released. In an interview Tuesday, Moldea said he called Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt, for whom Moldea has done consulting work. Moldea said a Hustler editor called Vitter's office late Monday afternoon.

In June, Flynt took out an ad in The Washington Post offering $1 million to anyone who could show they had engaged in a sexual encounter with a member of Congress "or a high-ranking government official." In a statement Tuesday, Hustler said Vitter's statement was "the result of a multi-pronged investigation launched and run by Larry Flynt."
Sibley said a "major news organization," also alerted by Moldea, had called Vitter's office Monday morning seeking comment on the call to Palfrey's company. He declined to identify the print news organization, but said it was not Hustler. Vitter's office issued his statement late Monday in an e-mail to the AP bureau in New Orleans.

Moldea was the lead investigator on Flynt's probe in 1998-99 of lawmakers who were investigating President Clinton in the Monica Lewinsky scandal. They included Rep. Robert Livingston, R-La., who stepped aside days before he was expected to become House speaker replacing Newt Gingrich. Livingston, whose House seat was later filled by Vitter, revealed that he, too, had an extramarital affair.

Vincent Bruno, a member of the Louisiana Republican State Central Committee, said Tuesday that Vitter should resign "for his own good, the good of the party and the good of his family."

But several Republican colleagues rallied to Vitter's side in Washington.

"It's really an issue between he and his family and God, and that has been dealt with, thankfully," said Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C. "He's a very good friend. He's a great legislator. So certainly I accept his apology, and hopefully it won't have any effect on his service here."

Asked if the matter might undermine Vitter's reputation as a social conservative, DeMint replied, "Yeah, that's part of being in leadership. If you fail to live up to standards you set for yourself, then obviously that hurts. That's what all of us fear most, that we're going to discredit ourselves and no longer be effective.

"We all think that we're not vulnerable to something like that happening," DeMint said, "but the fact is this can be a very lonely and isolating place to be away from your family. So I'm certainly not going to judge him because I don't want that kind of pressure on me."

In 2000, Wendy Vitter told Newhouse News Service she could not be as forgiving as Livingston's wife or Hillary Clinton if her husband were unfaithful.

"I'm a lot more like Lorena Bobbitt than Hillary," she said. "If he does something like that, I'm walking away with one thing, and it's not alimony, trust me."

Lorena Bobbitt, in a 1993 case that drew worldwide attention, cut off her husband's penis during an argument.

Louisiana's Democratic governor, Kathleen Blanco, issued a statement Tuesday saying she was "disappointed" over the revelation and hoped it wouldn't hurt the state's efforts to secure federal funding for rebuilding homes damaged by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

"I will travel to Washington in the coming weeks to continue my conversations with congressional leaders, and I hope this scandal will not lessen their critical support of our recovery," Blanco said.

Louisiana's other U.S. senator, Democrat Mary Landrieu, declined to comment on the Vitter matter.

Until Vitter's admission, the most prominent client of Palfrey's to emerge was senior State Department official Randall Tobias, who resigned from his post in April after ABC News confronted him about his use of the service.

Palfrey's Web site contains several pages of phone records, but no names, dating from August 1994 to August 2006. Palfrey wrote on the Web site that she believed a disk containing the records had been pirated, and said she was posting the records "to thwart any possible distorted version and to ensure the integrity of the information."

Palfrey pleaded guilty to pimping charges in 1991 on separate charges and was sentenced to 18 months in a California prison.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Originally posted 7/10/07:
Why is it always the Republicans who do these things?

Senator's number on escort service list

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070710/...v6AdCWrZpkM3wV

By DOUGLASS K. DANIEL, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Louisiana Sen. David Vitter, whose telephone number was disclosed by the so-called "D.C. Madam accused of running a prostitution ring, says he is sorry for a "serious sin" and that he has already made peace with his wife.

"This was a very serious sin in my past for which I am, of course, completely responsible," Vitter said Monday in a printed statement. "Several years ago, I asked for and received forgiveness from God and my wife in confession and marriage counseling. Out of respect for my family, I will keep my discussion of the matter there — with God and them. But I certainly offer my deep and sincere apologies to all I have disappointed and let down in any way."

Vitter's spokesman, Joel Digrado, confirmed the statement Monday evening in an e-mail to The Associated Press after a statement purported to be from Vitter was received by to the AP bureau in New Orleans.

It said his telephone number was on old phone records of Pamela Martin and Associates before he ran for the Senate.

Deborah Jeane Palfrey is accused by federal prosecutors of racketeering by running a prostitution ring that netted more than $2 million over 13 years, beginning in 1993. She contends that her escort service, Pamela Martin and Associates, was a legitimate business.

A Harvard graduate and Rhodes scholar, the 46-year-old Vitter was elected to his current office in 2004, becoming the first Republican from Louisiana elected to the Senate since Reconstruction. He represented Louisiana's 1st Congressional District in the House from 1999 to 2004.

Vitter and his wife, Wendy, live in Metairie, La., with their four children.

Palfrey's attorney, Montgomery Blair Sibley, told the AP, "I'm stunned that someone would be apologizing for this." He said Palfrey had posted the phone numbers of her escort service's clients online Monday, but that he had not been aware Vitter's number was among them. Vitter's statement was sent to the AP's New Orleans bureau Monday evening.

Palfrey's Web site contains several pages phone records, but no names, dating from August 1994 to August 2006. Palfrey wrote on the Web site that she believed a disk containing the records had been pirated, and said she was posting the records "to thwart any possible distorted version and to ensure the integrity of the information."

Palfrey revealed details of her escort service on ABC's news magazine "20/20" on May 4. At the time, ABC said it could not link any information provided by Palfrey to members of Congress or White House officials but did find links to prominent business executives, NASA officials and at least five military officers.

[RA]

Why is it always the Republicans who do these things?



You shouldnt take a stab at comedy tock, its not your forte.

[Logan13]

Why is it always the Republicans who do these things?

Senator's number on escort service list

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070710/...v6AdCWrZpkM3wV

By DOUGLASS K. DANIEL, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Louisiana Sen. David Vitter, whose telephone number was disclosed by the so-called "D.C. Madam accused of running a prostitution ring, says he is sorry for a "serious sin" and that he has already made peace with his wife.

"This was a very serious sin in my past for which I am, of course, completely responsible," Vitter said Monday in a printed statement. "Several years ago, I asked for and received forgiveness from God and my wife in confession and marriage counseling. Out of respect for my family, I will keep my discussion of the matter there — with God and them. But I certainly offer my deep and sincere apologies to all I have disappointed and let down in any way."

Vitter's spokesman, Joel Digrado, confirmed the statement Monday evening in an e-mail to The Associated Press after a statement purported to be from Vitter was received by to the AP bureau in New Orleans.

It said his telephone number was on old phone records of Pamela Martin and Associates before he ran for the Senate.

Deborah Jeane Palfrey is accused by federal prosecutors of racketeering by running a prostitution ring that netted more than $2 million over 13 years, beginning in 1993. She contends that her escort service, Pamela Martin and Associates, was a legitimate business.

A Harvard graduate and Rhodes scholar, the 46-year-old Vitter was elected to his current office in 2004, becoming the first Republican from Louisiana elected to the Senate since Reconstruction. He represented Louisiana's 1st Congressional District in the House from 1999 to 2004.

Vitter and his wife, Wendy, live in Metairie, La., with their four children.

Palfrey's attorney, Montgomery Blair Sibley, told the AP, "I'm stunned that someone would be apologizing for this." He said Palfrey had posted the phone numbers of her escort service's clients online Monday, but that he had not been aware Vitter's number was among them. Vitter's statement was sent to the AP's New Orleans bureau Monday evening.

Palfrey's Web site contains several pages phone records, but no names, dating from August 1994 to August 2006. Palfrey wrote on the Web site that she believed a disk containing the records had been pirated, and said she was posting the records "to thwart any possible distorted version and to ensure the integrity of the information."

Palfrey revealed details of her escort service on ABC's news magazine "20/20" on May 4. At the time, ABC said it could not link any information provided by Palfrey to members of Congress or White House officials but did find links to prominent business executives, NASA officials and at least five military officers.

What does Anti-Gay have to do with this, he wasn't screwing around with male prostitutes.

[Tock]

While Senator Vitter was bonking some prostitute (and cheating on his wife), he was busy saying this about protecting marriage:
--------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.vote-smart.org/speech_det...rase=&contain=

Public Statements

Speaker: Senator David B. Vitter (LA)
Title: Vitter Statement on Protecting the Sanctity of Marriage
Date: 2004-07-14
Speech


Vitter Statement on Protecting the Sanctity of Marriage

“This is a real outrage. The Hollywood left is redefining the most basic institution in human history, and our two U.S. Senators won't do anything about it.

We need a U.S. Senator who will stand up for Louisiana values, not Massachusetts's values. I am the only Senate Candidate to coauthor the Federal Marriage Amendment; the only one fighting for its passage. I am the only candidate proposing changes to the senate rules to stop liberal obstructionists from preventing an up or down vote on issues like this, judges, energy, and on and on.” stated David Vitter.

-------------------------------------------------------------
Public Statements

Speaker: Senator David B. Vitter (LA)
Title: Marriage Protection Amendment
Date: 2004-09-30
Location: Washington, DC
Speech

MARRIAGE PROTECTION AMENDMENT -- (House of Representatives - September 30, 2004)

(BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT)

Mr. VITTER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of the constitutional amendment to protect marriage as between one man and one woman. This is a very important issue for congress to address, and I am glad to have been part of the movement to bring this legislation to the House floor.

Marriage is a core institution of societies throughout the world and throughout history. It's something that has provided permanence and stability for our very social structure. Today, statistics clearly show that couples who are married are happier and better off economically, and that children who are raised in homes with a traditional, two-person married couple are better off. The societal benefits to protecting and promoting traditional marriage are, in fact, numerous.

In my home state of Louisiana, we voted just recently on a statewide constitutional amendment to define marriage in the traditional sense as between one man and one woman. The amendment passed with 78 percent, which clearly shows that an overwhelming majority of Louisianians want to see this legislation passed today.

Some opponents of this measure claim that states should decide. I strongly believe in letting states decide issues for themselves, and Congress tried this approach in 1996 with the Defense of Marriage Act. It passed and was signed into law, but today that law, and with it the clear will of the American people, is being chiseled away by opponents.

States-and more importantly, the people-will soon have their rights to decide this issue taken from them, by judges from some other part of the country. Not one state has decided by either popular referendum or legislative action to agree to anything other than marriage as between a man and a woman.

So I encourage and implore my colleagues today to support and vote for this measure, so that our states and our citizens can decide these matters for themselves.

[Logan13]

While Senator Vitter was bonking some prostitute (and cheating on his wife), he was busy saying this about protecting marriage:
--------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.vote-smart.org/speech_det...rase=&contain=

Public Statements

Speaker: Senator David B. Vitter (LA)
Title: Vitter Statement on Protecting the Sanctity of Marriage
Date: 2004-07-14
Speech


Vitter Statement on Protecting the Sanctity of Marriage

“This is a real outrage. The Hollywood left is redefining the most basic institution in human history, and our two U.S. Senators won't do anything about it.

We need a U.S. Senator who will stand up for Louisiana values, not Massachusetts's values. I am the only Senate Candidate to coauthor the Federal Marriage Amendment; the only one fighting for its passage. I am the only candidate proposing changes to the senate rules to stop liberal obstructionists from preventing an up or down vote on issues like this, judges, energy, and on and on.” stated David Vitter.

-------------------------------------------------------------
Public Statements

Speaker: Senator David B. Vitter (LA)
Title: Marriage Protection Amendment
Date: 2004-09-30
Location: Washington, DC
Speech

MARRIAGE PROTECTION AMENDMENT -- (House of Representatives - September 30, 2004)

(BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT)

Mr. VITTER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of the constitutional amendment to protect marriage as between one man and one woman. This is a very important issue for congress to address, and I am glad to have been part of the movement to bring this legislation to the House floor.

Marriage is a core institution of societies throughout the world and throughout history. It's something that has provided permanence and stability for our very social structure. Today, statistics clearly show that couples who are married are happier and better off economically, and that children who are raised in homes with a traditional, two-person married couple are better off. The societal benefits to protecting and promoting traditional marriage are, in fact, numerous.

In my home state of Louisiana, we voted just recently on a statewide constitutional amendment to define marriage in the traditional sense as between one man and one woman. The amendment passed with 78 percent, which clearly shows that an overwhelming majority of Louisianians want to see this legislation passed today.

Some opponents of this measure claim that states should decide. I strongly believe in letting states decide issues for themselves, and Congress tried this approach in 1996 with the Defense of Marriage Act. It passed and was signed into law, but today that law, and with it the clear will of the American people, is being chiseled away by opponents.

States-and more importantly, the people-will soon have their rights to decide this issue taken from them, by judges from some other part of the country. Not one state has decided by either popular referendum or legislative action to agree to anything other than marriage as between a man and a woman.

So I encourage and implore my colleagues today to support and vote for this measure, so that our states and our citizens can decide these matters for themselves.

I still see no relation to his "anti-gay agenda". It's just you trying your best to throw sexual preference into everything...........

[Coop77]

I still see no relation to his "anti-gay agenda". It's just you trying your best to throw sexual preference into everything...........

It's relevant because his argument against gay rights is that they're anti-family.
I think Tock is using pro-family-anti-gay as a single adjective to point out the hypocrisy in his not-very-pro-family actions.

[Tock]

It's relevant because his argument against gay rights is that they're anti-family.
I think Tock is using pro-family-anti-gay as a single adjective to point out the hypocrisy in his not-very-pro-family actions.

Yep. Plus, this guy was pushing the Federal Marriage Amendment, which was all about denying gay people the same legal benefits that heterosexual people get when they marry.

So what we've got here is a heterosexual adulterer who thinks gay folks shouldn't marry.

[Logan13]

It's relevant because his argument against gay rights is that they're anti-family.
I think Tock is using pro-family-anti-gay as a single adjective to point out the hypocrisy in his not-very-pro-family actions.

10-4 That makes more sense. Would you call gay rights pro-family?

[Logan13]

Yep. Plus, this guy was pushing the Federal Marriage Amendment, which was all about denying gay people the same legal benefits that heterosexual people get when they marry.

So what we've got here is a heterosexual adulterer who thinks gay folks shouldn't marry.

So do you think that one person with these beliefs speak for the vast members of our Congress who feel the same way? That's like me saying that Dahmer was representative of the homosexual community........

[Coop77]

10-4 That makes more sense. Would you call gay rights pro-family?

No, not necessarily. But they can be. I think gay marriage can be pro-family if children live in the household and see both members of the gay couple as parents.

[RA]

So do you think that one person with these beliefs speak for the vast members of our Congress who feel the same way? That's like me saying that Dahmer was representative of the homosexual community........

Very good point.

[kfrost06]

So what we've got here is a heterosexual adulterer who thinks gay folks shouldn't marry.

Are you talking about Bill Clinton again?

[Logan13]

Are you talking about Bill Clinton again?

no doubt, remember the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act?

[Tock]

Snip and snipe at Bill Clinton all you like. Go ahead and change the subject to ancient history. It's plain to see that you'd much rather talk about those things instead of what this thread is about, which is
the sexual hypocrisy of Louisiana's Republican US Senator David Vitten. We all know that Republicans tend to sexual hypocrisy much more than Democrats or Independants (http://www.dkosopedia.com/wiki/Examp..._moral_values).

The truth remains that pro-family, anti-gay Republican US Senator David Vittner is an adulterer who got found out. And it looks like there are plenty more embarrassing tales to be told:

http://thinkprogress.org:80/2007/07/...candals-leads/

Flynt tracking 20 congressional sex scandals leads.“Larry Flynt, the porn-industry magnate who first linked Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) to the escort service of the ‘D.C. Madam,’ said Wednesday that his investigators are tracking more than 20 leads on alleged congressional sex scandals.”

As Vitter remained missing in action for two Senate votes on defense policy, Flynt insisted that he exposed the conservative lawmaker’s sexual indiscretions only because they contradicted Vitter’s longtime defense of the “sanctity of marriage.”

“If someone’s living a life contrary to the way they’re advocating … then they become fair game,” Flynt told reporters. “I don’t want a man like that legislating for me, especially in the area of morality.”

So, you may as well get over your self-righteous selves and admit that men in act like dogs in heat when they get a chance, and so would you. Contrary to what they might have you beleive, clergymen, conservatives, and Republicans are not immune to this characteristic of human nature. So get real . . . stay on topic, and admit that your guy is a miserable sexual hypcrite.

[Logan13]

Snip and snipe at Bill Clinton all you like. Go ahead and change the subject to ancient history. It's plain to see that you'd much rather talk about those things instead of what this thread is about, which is
the sexual hypocrisy of Louisiana's Republican US Senator David Vitten. We all know that Republicans tend to sexual hypocrisy much more than Democrats or Independants (http://www.dkosopedia.com/wiki/Examp..._moral_values).

The truth remains that pro-family, anti-gay Republican US Senator David Vittner is an adulterer who got found out. And it looks like there are plenty more embarrassing tales to be told:

http://thinkprogress.org:80/2007/07/...candals-leads/

Flynt tracking 20 congressional sex scandals leads.“Larry Flynt, the porn-industry magnate who first linked Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) to the escort service of the ‘D.C. Madam,’ said Wednesday that his investigators are tracking more than 20 leads on alleged congressional sex scandals.”

As Vitter remained missing in action for two Senate votes on defense policy, Flynt insisted that he exposed the conservative lawmaker’s sexual indiscretions only because they contradicted Vitter’s longtime defense of the “sanctity of marriage.”

“If someone’s living a life contrary to the way they’re advocating … then they become fair game,” Flynt told reporters. “I don’t want a man like that legislating for me, especially in the area of morality.”

So, you may as well get over your self-righteous selves and admit that men in act like dogs in heat when they get a chance, and so would you. Contrary to what they might have you beleive, clergymen, conservatives, and Republicans are not immune to this characteristic of human nature. So get real . . . stay on topic, and admit that your guy is a miserable sexual hypcrite.

Men from all backgrounds have cheated on their spouses. The fact that you are trying to create a "Conservative" scandel out of this is ludacris. You have referred to Viter as "Your guy", does that mean that Jeffrey Dahmer is "Tock's guy". Admit it Tock, you are a bigotted against Conservative's. Regardless of the group, bigotry is not allowed in here.

[Tock]

Men from all backgrounds have cheated on their spouses.

True. It's somehow more enjoyable reading about self-righteous TV preachers when they get caught cheating on their spouses. Ya, that sort of thing always gets my day off to a good start . . .

The fact that you are trying to create a "Conservative" scandel out of this is ludacris.

Trying to create a conservative scandal? Not hardly. It already is one.

What is appalling about these cheap conservative Republicans is they purport to know how the rest of us should live our lives. These adulterers want to make moral decisions for the rest of us. They're nuts.

Look, I can't help it if your heros are scurrilious scum-bags. It would be nice, however, if you acknowledged their plentiful character flaws. But I suppose I can wish for "nice" in one hand, and spit in the other and see which one fills up first, eh?

Admit it Tock, you are a bigotted against Conservative's.

Not true. Some of my best friends are conservatives. Some of my conservative friends are flaming, flamboyant, obnoxious gays. They're fun people, but not too bright, IMHO, when it comes to reality.

What I am "bigoted" against is the sort of stupidity that got the US military needlessly involved in the mideast war. (The reason I pulled my punches on the previous sentence is that I didn't want to get you too upset about such stupidity, because I understand that I am a lot less patient with such stupidity than some other people of my acquaintance).

[Logan13]

True. It's somehow more enjoyable reading about self-righteous TV preachers when they get caught cheating on their spouses. Ya, that sort of thing always gets my day off to a good start . . .

Trying to create a conservative scandal? Not hardly. It already is one.

What is appalling about these cheap conservative Republicans is they purport to know how the rest of us should live our lives. These adulterers want to make moral decisions for the rest of us. They're nuts.

Look, I can't help it if your heros are scurrilious scum-bags. It would be nice, however, if you acknowledged their plentiful character flaws. But I suppose I can wish for "nice" in one hand, and spit in the other and see which one fills up first, eh?

Not true. Some of my best friends are conservatives. Some of my conservative friends are flaming, flamboyant, obnoxious gays. They're fun people, but not too bright, IMHO, when it comes to reality.

What I am "bigoted" against is the sort of stupidity that got the US military needlessly involved in the mideast war. (The reason I pulled my punches on the previous sentence is that I didn't want to get you too upset about such stupidity, because I understand that I am a lot less patient with such stupidity than some other people of my acquaintance).

You take Dahmer, I'll be more than happy to claim Vitter.........

[Tock]

Men from all backgrounds have cheated on their spouses. The fact that you are trying to create a "Conservative" scandel out of this is ludacris.

Ya, I heard lots of conservatives saying the exact same thing about Bill Clinton and his sex scandal, about how the whole thing was "ludacris" . . .

NOT!

[Tock]

Mrs. Vitter makes a reasonable request, which is for the media to mind their own business. The question that arises, however, is why should Republican politicians expect Democrats or the media to lay off them, when they so zealously investigated Bill Clinton's personal indisgression with an overeager White House intern?

Seems hypocritical to me, that Republicans think that their sex lives shouldn't be subject to close scrutiny when they subjected Bill Clinton's sex life to Congressional investigations. Especially when the Republicans involved are aggressively pushing legislation involving personal morality . . .




----------------------------------------------------------------------
Scandal-linked senator breaks a week of silence

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/07/...ter/index.html

CNN) -- Sen. David Vitter broke a week of silence on Monday and, with his wife by his side, denied allegations he had relationships with New Orleans prostitutes.

"I know this has hurt the relationship of trust I've enjoyed with so many of you," Sen. Vitter said Monday.

Media reports surfaced in the past week linking the Louisiana senator to a well-known prostitution case in New Orleans. Vitter attributed those charges to "long-term political enemies" and people seeking money.

"Those stories are not true," he said.

Vitter admitted he made calls to an alleged prostitution operation in Washington, offered an apology "to all those I have let down" and vowed to resume his work in the Senate.

Vitter, 46, acknowledged in a statement last Monday that his number was included in the telephone records of an escort service run by Deborah Jeane Palfrey, a woman dubbed by the news media as the "D.C. Madam."

In the statement, Vitter said the incident was "a very serious sin in my past for which I am, of course, completely responsible."

"Several years ago, I asked for and received forgiveness from God and from my wife in confession and marriage counseling."

The phone records were dated before 2004, when Vitter was first elected to the Senate.

"No matter how long ago it was, I know this has hurt the relationship of trust I've enjoyed with so many of you," he said. "I will work everyday to rebuild that trust."


The family-values Republican also addressed what some critics see as his hypocrisy, saying he's been "trying to live up to the important values we believe" since admitting to his mistakes.

"If continuing to believe in and acknowledge those values causes some to attack me because of my past failure, well, so be it," said Vitter, who does not come up for re-election until 2010.

"I'm not going to answer endless questions about it all over again and again and again and again. That might sell newspapers but it wouldn't serve my family or my constituents well at all," he said.

Vitter's wife, Wendy, told reporters she had forgiven her husband when she learned about the escort service several years ago.

"I made the decision to love him and to recommit to our marriage. To forgive is not always the easy choice, but it was, and is, the right choice for me," she said. "I am proud to be Wendy Vitter."

She also made a plea "as a mother" to the media to give her family some privacy, noting that reporters have been staking out their home and church.

"I would just ask you very respectfully to let us continue our summer, and our lives, as we had planned," she said.

Vitter said he was leaving directly from the hotel for the airport to catch a flight Washington to resume his work in the Senate.

Vitter had been in seclusion since his admission last week. He explained Monday that he and his wife decided it was "very important" for them to spend some time alone with their children.

Palfrey is facing money laundering and racketeering charges stemming from her alleged prostitution operation. She had denied the charges, saying her business was a legitimate, legal escort service.


Vitter is the first lawmaker entangled in the D.C. Madam case, though State Department official Randall Tobias resigned in May after confirming he patronized Palfrey's business.

Larry Flynt's Hustler magazine claimed credit for exposing Vitter's connection to the escort service, saying he came clean only after a journalist working as a paid consultant for the magazine discovered the senator's number on phone records released by Palfrey.

[Tock]

I wonder what this guy's been up to lately . . .