If at first you don’t succeed. Some weeks ago I pointed out that Deborah Jeane Palfrey, whose high-priced DC escort service was raided in late 2006, needed funds to mount a proper defense after the feds froze her $500,000 savings. Ms. Palfrey first tried offering her client list to the highest bidder. When the court blocked that move Ms. Palfrey threatened to simply release the list to an unspecified news agency. That way Ms. Palfrey wouldn’t profit from the list directly, but no doubt she would consider changing her mind if a well-heeled client offered to subsidize the defense.
Ms. Palfrey’s plan B must not have paid off, because now we get what can fairly be described as an exquisitely sadistic Plan C. The AP reports that Ms. Palfrey has released exactly…one name. Who he is doesn’t really matter (you can click the link if you really care…perv), but judging by his rank and influence it seems safe to say that this was a warning. To show that she’s serious.
As I see it Ms. Palfrey is going for more or less the same psychological effect as the crime movie staple of shooting one hostage every hour. It seems hard to believe that today’s release will be the only one. Who knows when one’s name will come out? Maybe tomorrow, maybe three months from now. Ms. Palfrey dismissed her court-appointed attorney so she won’t see counsel unless someone either dials up her defense line or (hint for any sweat-stained armpits at the DOJ) unfreezes her bank account. The clients know who they are. She knows who the clients are. Tick. Tick.
Mind you, none of this should be taken to mean that I approve of prostitution, extortion, blackmail or even that this remotely resembles what is actually going through Ms. Palfrey’s mind. Maybe I’m way off and even if I’m right the whole scheme is very, very wrong. But somehow a very damned part of my soul finds this funny as hell.
*** Critical Update! ***
I was unaware that ABC News already has the list. If you really need to find out who’s on the list (perv), tune in to an upcoming episode of 20/20.
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