http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/10/AR2007071001994.html?hpid=sec-artslivingSen. David Vitter, who acknowledged having contacted a Washington escort service, made the admission after being called by Hustler magazine, whose investigative reporter says the sex magazine is targeting "moral hypocrites."
Less than three hours after the inquiry, the Louisiana Republican sent the Associated Press a statement Monday evening confirming that he had been in contact with Deborah Jeane Palfrey, the indicted escort-service owner dubbed the D.C. Madam. Washington reporter Dan Moldea, who is working with Hustler owner Larry Flynt, is collaborating with Palfrey on a book proposal and said yesterday that he found Vitter's number in her phone records late last week.
"When you go through this list, there are a lot of just normal men who were patronizing this escort service," said Moldea, who specializes in covering organized crime. "I can assure you, we have no intention of hurting these people, no intention of interfering with their lives. This is about hypocrisy."
Moldea cited Vitter's conservative record on family issues. Asked if he and Flynt would expose sexual misconduct by a politician without such a record, Moldea said:
"If someone hasn't been shooting off his mouth, we'll throw him back in the river."