Spitzer withdraws suit against former mistress

Former governor turned developer Eliot Spitzer withdrew his lawsuit against an alleged Russian prostitute on Wednesday. Spitzer had sued Svetlana Zakharova Travis for fraud and extortion in July, claiming that his former mistress tried to shake him down after an encounter at The Plaza hotel.

“Eliot Spitzer, by and through his attorneys, hereby discontinues the above-entitled action without prejudice and without costs to either party as against the other,” Spitzer’s attorney wrote in the withdrawal notice, according to the New York Post.

Spitzer and Travis reportedly had an affair for years. After an argument at The Plaza hotel in February, Travis called 911 and later told Police that Spitzer had choked her. She later withdrew that accusation and flew to Russia.

According to court documents, Spitzer decided to file the suit against Travis after she contacted one of his daughters on social media in June.

Spitzer was forced to step down from his post as governor in 2008 after he was named as “Client9” in an investigation into a prostitution ring. He subsequently took control of his family real estate company, Spitzer Enterprises [TRDataCustom].

The firm is currently developing an 856-unit rental complex at 420 Kent Avenue in Williamsburg.

Over the summer, Spitzer had a brief spat with another developer with political ambitions: Donald Trump. [NYP] — Konrad Putzier