# DC Madam Shares Records -- Will the news agency reveal the list? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 13, 2007, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-madam-shares-records-will-the-news-agency-reveal-the-list/395762 "2007-03-13T16:28:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-madam-shares-records-will-the-news-agency-reveal-the-list/395762/1 "2007-03-13T16:28:41Z")
[http://www.cnn.com/2007/LAW/03/12/madam.clientlist.ap/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2007/LAW/03/12/madam.clientlist.ap/index.html) > [@](#): > > “I have decided to hand over all phone records, logs and invoices (including those presently unknown to the government) to what I believe to be one of the most reputable and respected investigative news organizations in the country, to assist me with my needs,” Deborah Jeane Palfrey, 50, wrote in an e-mail to WTOP Radio. 1. Would the news agency’s spilling of the names (under the heading: Sex Sells) have a negative effect on its ability to get “real” news regarding our government issues that make a difference? 2. Do you believe that her business really was a legal fantasy operation, as she claims? 3. Do you believe that participating in her fantasy business would hurt the politicians who frequented it, even if it was 100% legal? My opinion: 1. Very possibly. 2. Nope. I think it was a carefully masked prostitution operation, but possibly so carefully masked that they won’t be able to prove anything. 3. Absolutely. This could kill careers even if all they did was watch women dress up like Little Bo Peep and lead sheep around a room. I think this could potentially ruin a lot of people in DC. What do you think? ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-madam-shares-records-will-the-news-agency-reveal-the-list/395762/2 "2007-03-13T17:24:05Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] even if all they did was watch women dress up like Little Bo Peep and lead sheep around a room. [/QUOTE] Hypothetically, how much would something like this cost? I’m not asking on my own behalf, of course. Sailboat ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-madam-shares-records-will-the-news-agency-reveal-the-list/395762/3 "2007-03-13T17:26:22Z")
[QUOTE=Sailboat] Hypothetically, how much would something like this cost? I’m not asking on my own behalf, of course. Sailboat [/QUOTE] Not a clue here, but she’s looking for money to raise a defense, I think. That’s some big bucks. I’m guessing the amount of dirt she has on these government folks has got to be worth a mil or two. Maybe more. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-madam-shares-records-will-the-news-agency-reveal-the-list/395762/4 "2007-03-13T18:31:35Z")
How much to watch them sit on a tuffet and eat curds and whey? For some reason, that sounds dirty. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-madam-shares-records-will-the-news-agency-reveal-the-list/395762/5 "2007-03-13T18:55:32Z")
Pamela Martin and Associates has been a well-known escort service for a number of years. There’s no way anybody but an absolute numbnuts could possibly believe that any of the Little Miss Muffetts working for her weren’t prostitutes, and the men using her service weren’t johns. The paper trail may not be sufficient to prove this, though, and that’s the rub. To answer your questions, IMHO: 1. Not really. 2. Nope. Her agency wouldn’t have lasted so long if it was cash and dash. 3. Not sure of the impact. If a public figure is stupid enough to use an escort service that’s in the phone book, well, maybe. My guess is that noone anyone outside the Beltway’s heard of will get popped. ---
**Author:** ![Sunrazor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sunrazor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunrazor)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-madam-shares-records-will-the-news-agency-reveal-the-list/395762/6 "2007-03-14T13:36:58Z")
I’m kind of wondering whether this isn’t a thinly veiled blackmail threat and the madame is telling her high-profile customers, “Pony up, boys, or I let the cat out of the bag.” I am certain of one thing: Palfry’s idea of a “reputable” news organization doesn’t match most of America’s idea of a reputable news organization. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-madam-shares-records-will-the-news-agency-reveal-the-list/395762/7 "2007-03-14T16:03:29Z")
Well, the news folks are always saying “the public has a right to know”, so let’s see all the names and we’ll reach our own conclusions. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-madam-shares-records-will-the-news-agency-reveal-the-list/395762/8 "2007-03-14T16:35:22Z")
[QUOTE=Sunrazor] I’m kind of wondering whether this isn’t a thinly veiled blackmail threat and the madame is telling her high-profile customers, “Pony up, boys, or I let the cat out of the bag.” I am certain of one thing: Palfry’s idea of a “reputable” news organization doesn’t match most of America’s idea of a reputable news organization. [/QUOTE] I haven’t heard who the lucky winner was? What channel should I be watching for further details? And I agree with the blackmail thing. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-madam-shares-records-will-the-news-agency-reveal-the-list/395762/9 "2007-03-14T19:26:06Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] What channel should I be watching for further details? [/QUOTE] C-SPAN. “Emergency legislation conferring on a previously unknown businesswoman full immunity from prosecution of any kind has been introduced in both the House and the Senate. Debate continues…” ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-madam-shares-records-will-the-news-agency-reveal-the-list/395762/10 "2007-03-14T19:28:57Z")
Ooooh shit. This could be velly intellesting, indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-madam-shares-records-will-the-news-agency-reveal-the-list/395762/11 "2007-03-14T19:31:36Z")
Um… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-madam-shares-records-will-the-news-agency-reveal-the-list/395762/12 "2007-03-14T19:47:52Z")
"Palfrey said that in her time operating the business, she used discretion and confidentiality about who her clients were. But now, with her assets frozen by the government, she said she needs to **leverage the list** to help with her defense. “leverage”—that’s a new euphemism!!! so she states on the record that she will blackmail anybody on the list who she needs, to “help” her defence. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-madam-shares-records-will-the-news-agency-reveal-the-list/395762/13 "2007-03-14T19:56:56Z")
[QUOTE=Cervaise] Um… 😉 [/QUOTE] D’oh! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-madam-shares-records-will-the-news-agency-reveal-the-list/395762/14 "2007-03-14T20:36:30Z")
[Colbert]Well, this can only hurt the Democtratic party. The Republican party, being composed solely of ‘family values’ idealists, never would have partaken of her firm’s services. [/Colbert] ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2007, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-madam-shares-records-will-the-news-agency-reveal-the-list/395762/15 "2007-03-17T14:07:20Z")
[It’s a Done Deal](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070316/ap_on_go_ot/escort_list): > [@](#): > > Palfrey’s civil attorney, Montgomery Blair Sibley, said Friday he does not believe the judge’s order bars him from distributing copies of the phone records for free. > > In any event, Sibley said it’s a moot point because he has already given copies of the records to an undisclosed news organization. Sibley said the original records are preserved and nothing he has done will prevent prosecutors from inspecting all the materials. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2007, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-madam-shares-records-will-the-news-agency-reveal-the-list/395762/16 "2007-04-28T01:28:14Z")
[Senior Official Linked to Escort Service Resigns](http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/04/senior_official.html) > [@](#): > > Deputy Secretary of State Randall L. Tobias submitted his resignation Friday, one day after confirming to ABC News that he had been a customer of a Washington, D.C. escort service whose owner has been charged by federal prosecutors with running a prostitution operation. Tobias, 65, Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance and administrator of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), had previously served as the Ambassador for the President’s Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief. > … > Tobias’ private cell number was among thousands of numbers listed in the telephone records provided to ABC News by Jeane Palfrey, the woman dubbed the “D.C. Madam,” who is facing the federal charges. In an interview to be broadcast on “20/20” next Friday, Palfrey says she intends to call Tobias and a number of her other prominent DC clients to testify at her trial. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2007, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-madam-shares-records-will-the-news-agency-reveal-the-list/395762/17 "2007-04-28T02:13:47Z")
And that’s the worst part. Why should it mean that a government official would have to step down? It shouldn’t! ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2007, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-madam-shares-records-will-the-news-agency-reveal-the-list/395762/18 "2007-04-28T02:44:03Z")
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever] And that’s the worst part. Why should it mean that a government official would have to step down? It shouldn’t! [/QUOTE] Well, Tobias _did_ have a rep for pushing ‘traditional values’ > [@](#): > > As the Bush administration’s so-called “AIDS czar,” Tobias was criticized for emphasizing faithfulness and abstinence over condom use to prevent the spread of AIDS. I don’t see any problem in judging him according to those same values. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2007, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-madam-shares-records-will-the-news-agency-reveal-the-list/395762/19 "2007-04-28T02:45:29Z")
This will destroy any conservative Republicans on the list. Harder to tell for Democrats – though it would surely destroy any married ones. Except Marion Barry – if he’s still alive. The man’s caught on video smoking crack with a hooker, and comes back in triumph to elected office. He is a GOD!.