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Madam's Lawyer: Clients Were DC High Rollers
From Roll Call's Heard on the HIll column (sub. req.):
The lawyer representing the alleged madam of a prostitution ring that operated in D.C. for 13 years says it’s a “mathematical certainty” his client’s not-so-little black book includes some of Roll Call’s readers, i.e., power players in and around Congress.Attorney Montgomery Blair Sibley, who is representing accused madam Jeane Palfrey, tells HOH Palfrey hasn’t told him if the client list includes lawmakers. “But it’s a pretty good bet,” Sibley said.
Palfrey, who denies her “adult fantasy firm” was illegal, has only generated a few thousand dollars from donations to her Web site, www.deborahjeanepalfrey.com, Sibley said, so she still is considering selling records of her decade-plus operation to pay her legal bills, which likely will run well into six figures.
Palfrey is expected to be arraigned Friday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
“The quality of the escorts would attract a high-quality clientele,” Sibley said, explaining his certainty that the list includes droppable-in-Washington names. Other factors pointing to lobbyists, lawmakers and other bigwigs? “The cost and the location of the meetings — they were always in upscale hotels or in upscale parts of D.C., Maryland and Virginia.”
Naughty boldfacers on the list have plenty to be nervous about. Sibley said he isn’t sure when his client will decide what to do with her records. But for now, selling them “seems to be her only option,” he said.
As we reported before, Palfrey's lawyer told us that the madam herself "will cooperate with whoever acquires the information to supplement it with other information at her disposal."
Comments (8)
mrbontemp wrote on March 7, 2007 6:30 PM:somebody better buy them quick before grover norquist gets hold of 'em and burns them
Kathy wrote on March 8, 2007 12:00 AM:Perhaps Larry Flynt will buy the list. Oh I hope so!
JD Brooks wrote on March 8, 2007 12:07 AM:This client list is just exactly the kind of resource you guys need in your arsenal here at the TPM media empire!
Maybe Josh should launch another fundraiser?
Richard L. Adlof wrote on March 8, 2007 1:31 AM:Sure bet that Whore-forHay 43 ain't on the list . . .
While the wife he married is sleeping at a higher end hotel instead of the West Wing AND his office resigned and is in jet-mode . . . The pleather clad, ice-skating, piano player is probably treating him RIGHT (tee hee).
MFH wrote on March 8, 2007 1:45 AM:Apologies if it's redundant, but apparently the prosecution wants a court order to prevent Palfrey from revealing any names. Thesmokinggun.com has a scan of the filing.
gonzone wrote on March 8, 2007 8:06 AM:This would be almost as nice as the documented Guckert/Gannon's nocturnal visits to the White House and who he visited. Were those records really totally destroyed by the SS, and if so why? After all the WH is public property, not a private manse.
This announcement sounds like a tactic to drive up donations, especially considering the place to donate was specified. Else, well, the madam might spill the beans on y'all.
petpo wrote on March 8, 2007 12:03 PM:"but apparently the prosecution wants a court order to prevent Palfrey from revealing any names"
The prosecution is seeking a protective order to bar disclosure of material that it has to give to the defense, such as witness identities and statements. The potential prosecution witnesses are likely some of the escorts, but could include a client or two.
It doesn't appear that the protective order relates to the phone records, which are her property.
Quick Downloader wrote on March 9, 2007 10:28 PM:One Ringy Dingy, Two Ringy Dingy....
Is this the party to whom I am speaking?