New York

Woman Accused of Spitzer Blackmail Wants to Talk About His Fetishes

The plea deal announced Monday also covers a separate case in which Svetlana Zakharova tried to steal money from a man in New Jersey

What to Know

  • Svetlana Zakharov is seeking to lift a gag order so that she can talk about what she says are Eliot Spitzer's fetishes
  • In October, Zakharova was sentenced to 90 days in jail on a petit larceny conviction for blackmailing the former New York governor in 2016
  • Spitzer spokeswoman Lisa Linden calls Zakharova's new allegations "reprehensible lies from an extortionist"

A Russian woman who was accused of blackmailing disgraced former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer is seeking to lift a court-mandated gag order so she can talk about what she says are Spitzer's fetishes.

The New York Post reports Svetlana Zakharova filed papers in Manhattan state Supreme Court seeking to lift the gag order imposed as part of her prosecution.

Zakharova called police in February 2016 claiming Spitzer had choked her. Spitzer said she was extorting him.

She later was arrested and charged with forgery and grand larceny. She eventually pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of trying to steal from another man.

Spitzer spokeswoman Lisa Linden calls Zakharova's new allegations "reprehensible lies from an extortionist."

A prostitution scandal forced Spitzer, a Democrat, to resign as governor in 2008.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us