Eliot Spitzer was on suicide watch following hooker sex scandal, reveals book

New York, Mar 5 (ANI): One of Eliot Spitzer's closest confidants Lloyd Constantine has revealed that the ex-New York governor, whose administration crumbled in a prostitution scandal, had suicidal tendencies.

In his new tell-all book, titled 'Journal of the Plague Year', Constantine has claimed that Spitzer's friends placed him on suicide watch - something long rumoured but never confirmed.

Constantine, Spitzer's staff adviser, closely observed Spitzer in his last days as governor.

"I thought the moment Eliot ceased being governor would be a dangerous time for him to be alone," the New York Daily News quoted Constantine as saying.

The 287-page book offers the most detailed account yet of Spitzer's wrenching final days, but spills no beans on any lurid sex.

Constantine wrote that there's desperate, late-night phone calls from Spitzer who, called him in tears on March 9, 2008, to confide that he was about to be outed as "Client 9," a patron of a high-priced hooker named Ashley Dupre.

"I can't continue as governor and must resign," Spitzer said that night - three days before he actually did, wrote Constantine.

The book give details about how, for several days, Spitzer's inner circle was divided over whether he should quit - with some, principally Constantine, advocating that instead he get treatment for sex addiction.

"Eliot asked me to estimate the plan's chance of success," wrote Constantine.

In fact, Constantine even called two residential programs for treating "sexual compulsion." (ANI)