Of all the people affected by Eliot Spitzer‘s downfall, his staffers were among the hardest hit – angry and depressed by the conduct of the man they worshipped, sources said yesterday.
Several sources said Spitzer’s aides and staffers were furious and depressed after watching him go from god-like to disgrace. Especially angry were those who had tethered their futures to his.
“A lot of people took pay cuts,” said one source, noting that many people followed Spitzer from the state Attorney General’s Office to the Governor’s Office for less money.
Others “uprooted their families,” said another source, adding that many made lifestyle changes to follow the dream of Everything Changing on Day One.
“People are just mad, mad, mad.”
The staff is “angry, sad, disappointed,” added another source.
People wept openly as Spitzer’s final public address as governor approached.
Confused and stunned, they had hoped for some kind of direct address from him – but Spitzer avoided talking to most staffers after his resignation, while his wife, Silda, lingered to console people, sources said.
“She just comforted staff who were really upset,” said one source. “She gave them a hug.”
Spitzer’s chief-of-staff, Richard Baum, also submitted his resignation, sources said.
Another insider said, “They pinned their hopes on [the promise of a Spitzer administration]. They completely believed in him.”