WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. March 12, 2008  UPDATED 5:27 PM EDT: Governor Eliot Spitzer resigned his post today, effective Monday, March 17, at Lieutenant Governor David Patterson's request. Mr. Spitzer weathering a maelstorm of demands for his resignation in light of his being implicated in patronization of prostitutes on a recurring basis, made the announcement today in New York.

A spokesman for the Governor in New York told WPCNR that Mr. Spitzer will continue to make gubernatiorial decisions and be in charge of the state until Monday, 12 noon, at which time Lieutenant Governor Patterson will assume the reins of state.

In a related development, Cable News Network reported today that Governor Spitzer was "under surveillance by the FBI" during his liaison at the Mayflower Hotel February 13.

The White Plains City Democratic Committee announced this afternoon that Assemblyman Adam Bradley will brief the Committee on the details and issues of the Governor's transition in Albany tomorrow evening at the White Plains YWCA, on North Street.

 Here is the text of the Governor's statement:

In the past few days I have begun to atone for my private failings with my wife, Silda, my children, and my entire family. The remorse I feel will always be with me. Words cannot describe how grateful I am for the love and compassion they have shown me. From those to whom much is given, much is expected. I have been given much: the love of my family, the faith and trust of the people of New York, and the chance to lead this state. I am deeply sorry that I did not live up to what was expected of me. To every New Yorker, and to all those who believed in what I tried to stand for, I sincerely apologize.

I look at my time as Governor with a sense of what might have been, but I also know that as a public servant I, and the remarkable people with whom I worked, have accomplished a great deal. There is much more to be done, and I cannot allow my private failings to disrupt the people’s work. Over the course of my public life, I have insisted, I believe correctly, that people, regardless of their position or power, take responsibility for their conduct. I can and will ask no less of myself. For this reason, I am resigning from the Office of Governor. At Lt. Gov. Paterson’s request, the resignation will be effective Monday, March 17, a date that he believes will permit an orderly transition.

I go forward with the belief, as others have said, that as human beings, our greatest glory consists not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. As I leave public life, I will first do what I need to do to help and heal myself and my family. Then I will try once again, outside of politics, to serve the common good and to move toward the ideals and solutions which I believe can build a future of hope and opportunity for us and for our children. I hope all of New York will join my prayers for my friend, David Paterson, as he embarks on his new mission, and I thank the public once again for the privilege of service.