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Governor described as big spender

ALBANY, N.Y. - With pressure mounting on Democratic Gov. Eliot Spitzer to resign over a call-girl scandal, investigators said Tuesday he was clearly a repeat customer who spent tens of thousands of dollars - perhaps as much as $80,000 - with the high-priced prostitution service over an extended period of time.

Spitzer and his family remained secluded in their Fifth Avenue apartment in New York, while Republicans began talking impeachment, and few if any fellow Democrats came forward to defend him.

On Monday, when the scandal broke, prosecutors said in court papers that Spitzer had been caught on a wiretap spending $4,300 with the Emperors Club VIP call-girl service, with some of the money going toward a night with a prostitute named Kristen, and the rest to be used as credit toward future trysts. The papers also suggested that Spitzer had done this before.

A law enforcement official told the Associated Press on Tuesday that Spitzer had spent tens of thousands of dollars with the Emperors Club. Another official said the amount could be as high as $80,000. But it was not clear over what period of time that was spent. Both officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case.

Spitzer has not been charged, and prosecutors would not comment. Michele Hirshman, Spitzer's former deputy attorney general, has been retained to represent the governor.

[Last modified March 12, 2008, 01:24:26]