Deborah Jeane Palfrey, the 52-year-old woman known as the "D.C. Madam," committed suicide Thursday morning at her mother's home in a trailer park in the Tampa area, Tarpon Springs Police told FOXNews.com.Politically, the timing could impact one of her former supposed clients, U.S. Senator David Vitter.
"It was her, and she's deceased," Frank Ruggiero, a public information officer with the Tarpon Springs Police Department, told Fox News.com. "There's no question that it was a suicide."
On April 15, a D.C. jury found Palfrey guilty on charges of racketeering and money laundering related to her operating a prostitution ring.
The political problem for Vitter, who had been identified by investigators for Hustler magazine as a client of Palfrey’s, was that the DC Madam threatened in the during and after her trial to come forward with more information.She said she would reveal the identities of more of her clients as well — many believed to be high-profile political and business figures.
Ruggiero told Fox that police arrived at the scene at 10:52 a.m. Thursday and Palfrey was pronounced dead a short while later. He declined to say how she killed herself or offer other details.
The former Madam was reportedly staying at the mobile home of her mother Blanche, police said in a small storage shed located on the west side of the mobile home."Handwritten notes were found on scene that describe the victim's intention to take her life, and foul play does not appear to be involved," said Capt. Jeffrey P. Young in a press release.
Pinellas County Medical Examiners will determine the official cause of death, and are working with the FBI on the case.
THE POLITICAL IMPACT
Republican insiders reportedly have been urging Secretary of State Jay Dardenne to challenge Vitter for the Republican nomination in the 2010 elections.In recent weeks though, Dardenne, who had been initially interested in such a race, had been backtracking—viewing polls that put Vitter’s approval rating about 70% despite Palfrey scandal and reports by stretching over the last decade that Vitter’s trysts with prostitutes was not a one time occurrence.(In 2002, a story by the author in The Louisiana Weekly revealed that Vitter conducted a nine month tryst with prostitute Wendy Cortez twice weekly at an apartment on the corner of Dumaine and Dauphine Streets in New Orleans’ French Quarter.)
Now, the resurrection of the scandal thanks to Palfrey’s death and the inevitable questions that it entails could bring the voices calling for Dardenne to seek the GOP nomination back to the surface.
Third District Congressman Charlie Melancon has been flirting with the idea of a challenge to Vitter since last summer.If a moderate Democrat from Acadiana, like Melancon, should mount a campaign against Vitter, the question remains--now that one of the protagonists in the story has turned up dead--will two years be enough for the prostitute scandal to finally blow over for the incumbent Louisiana Senator?Will Dardenne and the state GOP leadership take the risk?
Bayoubuzz Note:Neither Bayoubuzz nor Christopher Tidmore is suggesting that David Vitter had anything to do with the likely death of Ms. Palfrey and are specifically advocating against any such suggestions of a relationship of such kind.However, on web sites as prestigious as the Washington Post, conspiracy theorists are suggesting a sinister connection.While Bayoubuzz believes in free speech, both Christopher Tidmore and Bayoubuzz caution readers to heavily scrutinize any “Vince Foster”-type theories related to Ms. Palfrey’s apparent death.Yet, because of the linkage between David Vitter and the DC Madam, both Christopher Tidmore and Bayoubuzz believe this recent unfortunate incident resurrects the David Vitter “sin” issue and could cause problems for him politically despite his favorable ratings.
Because I can find concrete language too..... Written by .................SC
on 5/2/2008
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"Qui se sierit testarier libripensve fuerit, ni testimonium fatiatur, inprobus intestabilisque esto". For those of you who understand what that means,,,, There too is your answer to perplexing Vitter concerns..... And for those of you that do not understand how to change things, well......Cum nexum faciet mancipiumque, uti lingua nuncupassit, ita ius esto.............. Empowerment is one of the basic and necessary ways to make things right..... Even when others are hell bent at doing wrong....
Written by Si aqua pluvia nocet iubetur ex arbitrio coerceri
on 5/2/2008
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Neither party has any sort of monopoly on corruption or wrongdoing. There are saints and sinners on both sides of the aisle. Having said that, I still seem to find that the loudest of the loudmouthed moralizers are the ones typically sinning the most, e.g. Bob Livingston and Newt Gingrich. How about letting the one without sin cast the first stone? Republicans need to quit with all the moralizing and for the good of the country just quietly get to work on the issues, but nonetheless they're the ones who've long made a practice of harping on others' sins and misdeeds and thus they've brought this on themselves. If Vitter really had any integrity he'd have resigned long ago. He doesn't; just like any other politico he's all about his own career above everything else. Written by Richard P.
on 5/1/2008
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Am I the only cynic who suspects she was murdered? Written by Robert Desmarais Sullivan
on 5/1/2008
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Sharon, you remember that ten percent reimbursement that Louisiana had to pay to the US government after Katrina? You remember who authored that bill? Your Senator. I am sure he wrote it very well. How many times did he go on television to say it was wrong? How many radio shows did he appear on? At the greatest time of need, Vitter was AWOL. He was the one person who could have helped Louisiana with Bush and he failed at his own job.
And talking about "sex" Mr. Haggar. What is funny is that many of the same people who were going after Clinton to embarass him are now defending Vitter and saying sex doesn't matter if you are a public figure or taking the fifth doesn't matter if you are a Senator. Incredible hypocrisy. Written by Clark
on 5/1/2008
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Good for you, Kelly. If I read you correctly, you found some language in a bill Vitter was proposing that you thought needed correcting. You contacted Vitter, he heard you out, agreed and changed the language to the betterment of Louisiana. I seem to remember his work on that bill. Good for you & good for Senator Vitter. I doubt that many know how good Vitter is in crafting language and finding language that changes the meaning of a bill. That is what he did on the Illegal Immigration Bill and how it was defeated. I still believe he was targeted because of his success. Nobody is saying he is perfect. But I can say for a fact that putting Melancon in his place will be a big loss for Louisiana. Melancon, though a nice man, is just plain not as intelligent, articulate, or capable of putting forth the kind of legislation needed for Louisiana or the Nation. I get picked on all the time, Kelly for saying that Vitter is effective and doing his job. It is nice to have someone who agrees. Written by Sharon
on 5/1/2008
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This is a sad story and deserves little opinion from anyone. Countless lives have been affected by this whole affair. And I find it hilarious that you mention Charlie Boy Melancon's intentions to run for the Senate. What a joke, this Edwin Edwards chauffeur is more of the same dead head politicians that have been representing us for the past decades. He votes with the democratic leadership when they tell him to and he tells everybody he's a blue dog democrat. Ask him about Kajakastan(sp?) that's all this drip talked about for two years, the business opportunities that would be available. What a joke. And remember that after Katrina he was part of the partisan problem that caused us to lag behind in recovery. Republicans and democrats alike, you grind them up and you might be able to fill a 25 # sack of Old Roy Dog Food and use it for fertilizer. Written by Sid
on 5/1/2008
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Clark - "You mentioned he helped you. Exactly what did he do for you? What is your relationship with him?" Hang on, Clark, what follows is real SEXY stuff. I'm talkin' "twins-in-a-trapeze" level material here. Sharon and Rhett's Wife, avert yore eyes at the necessary moment 'cause I doubt yore purty little heads can handle the forthcoming wickedness. I explained in general at the time what the then-Rep. Vitter "did for me." More correctly, I believe the changes he made to his own bill were actually a benefit for everyone in La, but you can check out Thomas and download the text of all versions of the bill and decide for yourself. Look up HR 2957 (Senate bill was S835) from 1999 and follow it through all the way to passage and signature in 2000. It was passed as the "Lake Pontchartrain Basin Restoration Act of 2000." The basic text amends the National Estuary Program by adding into Section 320(a)(2)(B) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1330(a)(2)(B)), before "and Peconic Bay, New York" the "Lake Ponchartrain Basin, Louisiana and Mississippi." I never asked for a penny from the program, didn't expect to get a penny from it, none of my clients ever did or did, and neither I nor any of them ever got a thing as result of this bill's passage. It was pure D civic mindedness. 100% of my "relationship" with the then-Rep. Vitter was that I made such a good case that the original text was flawed that his Chief of Staff thought I deserved a chance to have my say to him personally. She had him call me at my office. He heard me out, agreed his original bill was flawed, and amended it. We spoke maybe 6-7 minutes, once, tops. That was it, period. I have not spoken to Rep or Senator Vitter since. I seriously doubt he knows I'm alive, although he would probably remember these events if his attention were directed to it. P.S. At some level, responsible citizenship involves a little effort. If any Buzzers/Buzzites/Buzzians want to know why I objected to the original, do your homework first. Read the original and the final texts. Post why you liked the one you liked and THEN I'll debate the point if (a) my workload permits and (b) someone truly wants to explore the topic. However, I'm betting not even Chris Whittington on steroids can defend the original text on the merits, as opposed to glittering generalities about "the environment," plus I truly doubt Larry Flynt has enough brains to understand the issues raised by the original text. Written by Kelly Haggar
on 5/1/2008
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I think you guys are missing the point. What do you think of when the name of Bill Clinton is mentioned? Monica Lewinsky, right? When you think of the DC Madam, you logically think of the U.S. Senator, David Vitter who of all things was willing to take the 5th Amendment. If you look at the Washington Post blogs, those people believe this lady was killed some think it was Vitter and Bayoubuzz and Tidmore are saying not to go there. No. I think Tidmore and Bayoubuzz were saying that there are many high-ranking Republicans who feel very uncomfortable with Vitter and some are hoping he will step down. They also seem to be saying that other Republicans want to run against Vitter. And Hagger, you always take up for Vitter. You mentioned he helped you. Exactly what did he do for you? What is your relationship with him? On another note, did you know that Jay Dardenne was thinking about running against Vitter? Did you know that Melancon was thinking the same? Did you know some people from across the nation are telling the Washington Post they think it was murder. I think this column was very newsworthy and fair. It was fair because when a controversial person such as the DC Madam dies, Vitter obviously is going to be at least thought of in some way. It was fair because both Tidmore and Bayoubuzz said don't draw conclusions about Vitter and the Madam. But, it is fair to think of Vitter when you think of the Madam. If you don't think that the Louisiana Republican party doesn't want Vitter to go away, you don't know the party. Written by Clark
on 5/1/2008
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Frankly, dears, if we let this affect David Vitter's future then it should affect the future of every other client of the D.C. Madam and the Canal Street Madam. We continue to demand the release of all of the names. Only then will the magnitude of the problem of immorality of some of our country and local leaders be seen. Root out the cause, yes, but do not label one man as the poster boy for prostitution. The panderer, Larry Flynt, did this for his own personal reasons. Did he out others that might be more to his political liking? No Then let the press roll out the others. Let's stop making David Vitter the sole whipping boy for these activities and this tragedy. Yes tragedy because a woman's life is gone, a mother has lost a child, and because a woman faced a life and did the wrong thing. How many other men and women have done the same and gotten away with it.
Written by RhettsWife
on 5/1/2008
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What would Vitter gain from this woman making headlines again? Seems to me those names that have not been released would have more to gain from this untimely death. Why the mention of "Vince Foster"? It certainly does appear that neither of you want this story to end. Why? As far as Vitter's political fortunes, well as I have said before the man is brilliant, articulate and effective. He is not perfect. So? As far as this enhancing Melancon's political chances of a Senate Seat, well that is up to the voters. It certainly seems to me that would be a heck of a step down in abilities. Just my opinion though. Written by Sharon
on 5/1/2008
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A leaf could fall in October and both Christopher Tidmore and Bayoubuzz would believe that falling leaf would resurrect the David Vitter “sin” issue. They both hope anything and everything could be made to cause problems for Vitter politically despite his favorable ratings. Grow up. She killed herself. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Life isn't over even for a life sentence. The only thing sadder than this unnecessary waste of of a life is the exploitation of it by Bayou Buzz. You only care about the reputation of La. yeah, right.
Written by Kelly Haggar
on 5/1/2008
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Well, whether they are bored or merely boring, these buzzy boys that report the latest scoops for us to read do like to stir the crapper..... Written by Add a pinch or two of cayenne, that'll spice it up
on 5/1/2008
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For additional news along this story line go to the corner grocery store and buy the latest copy of the NATIONAL ENQUIRER, which is also sitting next to the Washington Post at bookstands nationwide............ Written by ...Jimmy Olson, cub reporter for the Daily Planet
on 5/1/2008
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