The U.S Department of Justice has unveiled a ground-breaking new filter system for the prosecution of crime. Prosecution of infringements can now be dropped if the Department decides that public interest doesn’t run high enough in the matter.
The first beneficiary of the new system is former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer.
U.S. Attorney in Manhattan Michael Garcia explained:
‘In light of the policy of the Department of Justice with respect to prostitution offenses and the long-standing practice of this Office, as well as Mr. Spitzer's acceptance of responsibility for his conduct, we have concluded that the public interest would not be further advanced by filing criminal charges in this matter.’
Mr Spitzer, never one to shy from the prosecution of white collar crime when in office, resigned as governor in March when it emerged that he regularly employed a $1,000-an-hour prostitute. Yesterday the 40-year old ‘Sheriff of Wall Street,’ revealed his participation in a sex ring known as the Emperors Club VIP.
‘Listen,’ said Mr Garcia. ‘We did a thorough investigation and found no evidence of misuse of public or campaign funds. It was more a case of a hypocrite brought to light than anything else. And I stress, the public interest would not be further advanced by filing criminal charges in this matter. Spitzer's an okay guy who just took a wrong turn.’
The DPP, Mr James Hamilton, is looking into the matter and has signalled that this jurisprudential shift may become part of Irish law in the near future.
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