Spitzer's call girl...

For the last few days, the newspapers, radio and television have been dominated with stories about the downfall of New York Governor Eliot Spitzer.

Eliot Spitzer, who had aggressively pursued organized crime and prostitution as a New York city District Attorney, was investigated by the IRS after he made several curious wire-transfers to a company believed to be the cover for a New York prostitution ring.

Originally, authorities launched this investigation thinking that Spitzer was making the secret transfers because he was being blackmailed or extorted. However, it soon became apparent that he was parting with the money voluntarily - and receiving something in return.

That something turned out to be 22 year-old singer/model Ashley Alexandra Dupre - an aspiring musician from New Jersey. And she's far more interesting than Eliot Spitzer.

The $4,300 Call-Girl

When Ashley Alexandra Dupre dreamed of being famous, it was probably not under these circumstances.

An aspiring singer, she'd moved to Manhattan to further her music career - releasing two pop/RnB tracks she hoped would propel her into the spotlight.

But the lifestyle of a New York pop-star - even a wannabe one - is expensive. Ashley claims she was lured into the escort business when her boyfriend walked out, leaving her saddled with the $3,500 a month rent of their swanky Chelsea studio apartment.

“I just don’t want to be thought of as a monster,” she told the New York Times when her identity was revealed.

In fact, the newspapers and media have been pretty forgiving of this attractive young woman. She's avoided prosecution by agreeing to give evidence in front of a grand jury. But while the legal system won't judge her - it's likely the entire country will.

I find it all rather sad, really. Here's a girl who came to be big city to seek fame. Instead, she's courted infamy. Where ever fate leads Dupre in the future, it's inevitable that any musical career will always be overshadowed by the memory of this scandal.

Some people say that's the least she deserves. Others portray Ashley Alexandra as a young and naive victim. Whatever you believe, seeing her face and reading her frank words in the New York Times brings a whole new human angle to what had previously been a largely political scandal.