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New York Governor Eliot Spitzer has resigned following a sex scandal that rocked the state and stunned¹ political observers across the country. The resignation takes effect next Monday in order to give Lieutenant² Governor David Paterson time for an orderly transition. Paterson will become the state's first African-American leader.

纽约州州长斯皮策辞去了他的州长职位。此前，他的性丑闻震惊了纽约州和全美国的政治观察人士。斯皮策的辞职将于下星期一生效，以便留给纽约州副州长佩特森充足的时间进行权力交接。佩特森将成为纽约州的第一位非洲裔州长。

Spitzer's resignation has been anticipated since The New York Times reported on Monday that the governor was involved in a high-priced prostitution ring. Spitzer is alleged³ to have spent tens of thousands of dollars on sessions with call girls.

自纽约时报星期一报导纽约州州长斯皮策与一个高价卖淫团伙有牵连后，就有人预计斯皮策会辞职。斯皮策被指称花费了几万美元嫖妓。

In a brief statement, Spitzer said he has already begun to atone⁴ for his private failings with his family and he apologized to his supporters.

斯皮策发表简短声明说，他已经开始为他个人的失败向家人做出补偿，并向他的支持者表示道歉。

"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," he said.

斯皮策说：“我为辜负人们对我的期望而感到深切的歉意。我向每一个纽约人和所有相信我所代表的价值观的人表示诚挚的道歉。我在反省我作为一个州长的表现。”

Spitzer said his resignation will take effect on Monday at the request of Lieutenant Governor David Paterson to provide time for an orderly transition.

斯皮策说，应副州长佩特森的请求，他的辞职将于星期一生效，以便给佩特森足够的时间进行有秩序的交接。

Spitzer's announcement ends a high profile career as a crusader against corporate⁵ corruption⁶. As a popular state attorney general, he successfully prosecuted⁷ cases against Wall Street stock traders, mob leaders and several prostitution rings. He was elected governor in 2006 by a landslide⁸. As governor, he signed into law a bill that increased the penalties of those who patronized prostitutes. But his abrasive⁹ style also made enemies who were stunned by his fall from grace but not prepared to support any attempt by him to stay in office.

斯皮策的辞职结束了他声望很高的州长生涯，他曾经是打击企业腐败的先锋。作为一位深得民心的州检察长，斯皮策成功地起诉了华尔街股票交易商、犯罪团伙头目以及几个卖淫团伙。2006年，他以压倒优势当选纽约州州长。作为纽约州长，他签署了一部法案，该法案增加了对嫖娼者的罚款。但是他的严厉作风使他的敌人对他的失足感到震惊，也使人们无法为支持他继续留任做出任何努力。

Lieutenant Governor David Paterson, who is legally blind, represented Harlem for 20 years in the New York State Senate, where he enjoyed the respect of colleagues on both sides of the political aisle¹⁰. He has deep roots in New York City politics. His father Basil is a well-known political figure who once served as deputy mayor.

纽约州副州长佩特森是位法定盲人。他在纽约州参议院代表纽约的哈莱姆黑人区将近20年，并且受到两党人士的尊重。佩特森在纽约市政界有很深厚的根基，他的父亲巴兹尔曾经担任过纽约市副市长，是一位非常有名的政界人士。