DC Madam news stories on Newser

ACORN Takedown Campaign Overblown, Misguided

Kevin Spak — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 11:50:14 CDT

The conservative campaign against ACORN—which has now, thanks to a few video “sting” operations, lost its federal funding—is built on an outrageous set of exaggerations and falsehoods, writes Joe Conason for Salon. “No doubt it was fun to dupe a few morons into providing tax advice to a...

Porn Star Seeks La. Senate Seat

Harry Kimball — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 16:06:36 CST

Louisiana GOP Senator David Vitter will meet a substantial opponent in his 2010 bid for re-election: porn star Stormy Daniels, CNN reports. A grass-roots “Draft Stormy” campaign, unaffiliated with the state’s Democratic Party, has encouraged the buxom blond to run on a platform of the economy, women’s issues, and child...

'DC Madam' Mom Sues to Stop Release of Suicide Photos

Michael Foreman — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:56:10 CDT

The mother of 'DC Madam' Deborah Jeane Palfrey is suing to stop police from releasing photos of her daughter's suicide scene, the St. Petersburg Times reports. A public records law allows disclosure, but the Blanche Palfrey's attorney argues it's "inappropriate, unacceptable, and personally harmful." The late Palfrey faced up to...

DC Madam to the Big Screen?

Elizabeth Wolff — Tue, 13 May 2008 13:20:04 CDT

The DC madam may have committed suicide last week to avoid jail, but her story lives on. Literary agents are discussing doing a documentary on Deborah Jeane Palfrey, the New York Post reports, and have lined up biographer C. David Heymann to write a book about the sex industry, with...

DC Madam as Feminist Entrepreneur

Paul Stinson — Tue, 06 May 2008 09:49:50 CDT

Most know her as the feisty DC Madam who riled up the media by releasing her clients' phone records, but a half-finished memoir obtained by Newsweek reveals Deborah Jeane Palfrey's personal side. A small-town girl turned "fuddy-duddy white lady," she overcame a stifling childhood to turn feminist entrepreneur.

DC Madam Saw 'No Way Out': Suicide Note

M. Morris — Mon, 05 May 2008 14:10:48 CDT

Unable to bear the prospect of prison time, the so-called DC Madam hanged herself, officials in Florida said today. Deborah Jeane Palfrey, whose body was found Thursday, left behind suicide notes in which she referred to "this 'modern day lynching'" and said she saw "no way out i.e. 'exit...

Mother Found 'DC Madam' Hanging, Fla. Police Say

Jonas Oransky — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:29:51 CDT

The so-called “DC Madam” hanged herself in Florida, police said today, committing suicide two weeks after her conviction for money laundering and racketeering. Officials say her mother found Deborah Jeane Palfrey, 52, hanging in a storage shed this morning, along with suicide notes whose details they did not divulge. Police...

'DC Madam' Guilty, Guilty, Guilty

Polly Davis Doig — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:54:36 CDT

Rejecting the defense that she didn't know her escorts were having sex with clients, a federal jury convicted the "DC Madam," who, WTOP–FM reports, met today's verdict with a sigh. Deborah Jeane Palfrey, whose prostitution-ring bust implicated Washington highbrows, including a Louisiana senator, faces up to 55 years on racketeering...

Senator Won't Testify in 'DC Madam' Case

Kevin Spak — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 11:57:45 CDT

Louisiana Sen. David Vitter will be spared an embarrassing trip to the witness stand in the trial of Deborah Palfrey, the so-called “DC Madam,” CQ Politics reports. The defense and prosecution both rested today, with the defense declining to call any witnesses. The Republican lawmaker, who has admitted using Palfrey’s...