Prostitute Apologizes to Spitzer's Wife

NEW YORK - The prostitute at the center of the scandal that brought down former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer says she feels especially bad for his wife.

Ashley Alexandra Dupre tells People magazine that the FBI informed her early in March, 2008 that it was investigating one of her clients.  She learned a few days later on March 12th, she learned which client it was, when she saw Governor Spitzer announcing his resignation on TV.

Dupre says she has undergone "intense" psychotherapy since the events that generated a national scandal.  Dupre said she was stricken by the pained expression on the face of Silda Spitzer, as she stood by her husband at the news conference. "I try not to revisit that place too often, but when I think about his speech, I think of her face, her eyes, the hurt," she said.  Her message to Silda Wall Spitzer: "I am sorry for your pain."

Spitzer was known as "Client number 9" by the Emperors Club VIP where Dupre worked as an escort under the name "Kristen."  She said she practiced safe sex with all her clients, including Spitzer. On her attorney's advice, she declined to elaborate on their liaison, or say whether Spitzer visited her more than once. She did say that he dressed casually and she did not see his security detail.

Dupre said she quit the escort business temporarily in April 2007 after falling in love with a wealthy married man. "It started to be scary. ... What if I got AIDS? Got killed?" After they broke up, she went to work at the Emperor's Club. It was during that period that she met Spitzer.
  
Four people have pleaded guilty to running the prostitution operation. Last week, federal prosecutors said they wouldn't bring criminal charges against Spitzer.

Dupre, 23, envisions a future for herself in the worlds of music, fashion and "writing books" -- but not prostitution.   "Never again."