by Andrew Zajac
Deborah Jeane Palfrey, the Cupid's bow-lipped escort service impressario, whose phone records have Washington undies in a bunch, has planted a big wet one on the Chicago Tribune.
Or has she?
One of the numbers dialed out from Palfrey's phone on the afternoon of Jan. 3, 2001 matches that of the Tribune national desk.
Palfrey posted the phone bills for her agency, Pamela Martin and Associates, on-line, in a bid, she's said, to smoke out customers who will support her contention that services rendered were legal.
Palfrey's lawyer, Montgomery Blair Sibley, wasn't of much help in understanding the circumstances of the approximately two and half minute call into one of the more sober and serious corners of the Tribune.
Palfrey didn't explain it either, though she suggested, vaguely, that she had a reason for calling the number.
First Sibley from a brief phone interview late Tuesday: "I can shed no light on that at all....That's not the traditional look for a customer call. Usually there are two or three in an hour or so. The customer calls back for directions, confirming, things like that."
"But that doesn't mean it couldn't have been an appointment," Sibley said, or a personal call of Palfrey's. "You can't eliminate any possibility."
This morning, Palfrey, in response to an e-mail query, said that "all outgoing (itemized) calls were made by me, from California to clients in the Washington area. These are data rich calls. The only way I would have any D.C related telephone number and/or other area code cell number would be if an individual gave it to me."
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Comments
This is progress. The Tribune owned LA Times is showing how not to report with the mayor Antonio Villaragosa affair. When a story falls in your lap, cough, the sensible thing for a newspaper to do is not to hold it.
Posted by: Menlo Bob | July 10, 2007 9:18 PM
2008 GOP Campaign Slogan:
"Blow and Ho's for Everyone"
Posted by: John E | July 10, 2007 11:14 PM
I'll believe it is a wrong number if the next number dialed is similar to the Tribune number.
Posted by: John Davies | July 11, 2007 12:13 AM
The mainstream media is now controlled by a handful of power elites in the USA. With this type of corruption comes other forms of corruption.
Posted by: John Beverly | July 11, 2007 8:47 AM
All the wrong numbers I dial last 2 1/2 minutes. Is David Vitter there? Wrong number? Are you sure? The phone book said this is the right number. Let me speak to David Vitter please. I know he's there.
Posted by: Anon | July 11, 2007 9:05 AM
There's a law against her or one of her girls knowing someong that works at the Trib? I didn't know that!
People, get a grip. Prostitutes and madams have a life just like anyone else. And they do have friends that don't have a clue as to what they do for a living.
Posted by: MadSat | July 11, 2007 9:12 AM
My only comment is please ladies- leave your pervert disrespectful husbands- let that behavior wreck your marriage- you are stronger than this!! Please go enjoy some affairs of your own and let him be with his hookers! The loser! GO GIRL!!!
Posted by: Shari | July 11, 2007 9:19 AM
Just wondering how many women really understand that the way to keep your man is the way you caught him to begin with.
Men are like cars,, Take care of them ,, and they will last you a long time,, drive the crap out of them and you will be looking for a new one way too soon.
Posted by: SirLion | July 11, 2007 11:54 AM
I pay my newspaper with a call and a credit card so that's what she was doing...yeah that's it. Sheesh!!! Where is the presumption of innocence any more?
Posted by: Hillary Sheesh | July 11, 2007 12:29 PM
"You can't eliminate any possibility."
Including a wrong number, right?
Posted by Andy Zajac on July 10, 2007 6:21 PM
Two-and-half minutes for a wrong number? How is that even remotely possible?
Posted by: Anonymous | July 11, 2007 12:33 PM
I love hookers. Make it legal!
Posted by: Pablo Golsten | July 11, 2007 3:42 PM
You gotta laugh at the fantasy explanations that have come up on this topic. What really has me going are the right wingers who want to believe anything except that their kind are as corrupt and probably less candid than what they so despise.
Posted by: vic winkler | July 12, 2007 3:47 PM