Deborah Jeane Palfrey news stories on Newser

Juiciest Political Sex Scandals

Evann Gastaldo — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 09:07:56 CST

From Eliot Spitzer’s $80,000 worth of prostitute action to Mark Sanford “hiking the Appalachian trail,” this decade has been ripe with political sex scandals. The Frisky picks the juiciest. Some of the slightly-lesser-discussed affairs: Mike Duvall: A self-described “family values warrior” in the California State Assembly spilled about his...

'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...

DC Madam Says She'll Name Names

Peter Fearon — Tue, 01 May 2007 09:15:18 CDT

A White House economist, the head of a conservative think tank, lobbyists, military brass and a prominent CEO—they’re among pay-to-play clients DC Madam Deborah Jeane Palfrey says she'll finger, ABC and the Post report. Palfrey said at a press conference yesterday she’s “genuinely sorry" if her clients are hurt...