Scandals And Trials
...and the media can often affect the outcome of trials because the media can sensationalize the person or persons that are directly involved in the case. This is especially true if the people involved are high profile people, like actors and politicians. If the media were not involved, these cases would be tried on their own merit, not on what the media has determined to be the cause or results of the individual situations. There are several instances where scandals are linked to high profile trials.
One recent example of scandals and trials is the “D.C. Madam”, Deborah Jeane Palfrey trial. In one of her articles, Conant states that “…’Pamela Martin & Associates’ escort service boasted some 10,000 clients, including powerful D.C. figures.” The article also states that “…she hopes, Spitzer’s fall may give her claims an unexpected credibility boost.” (Conant, Newsweek, March 24, 2008). Palfrey claimed that she was running an “adult fantasy” service that did not include sex and that it was a legal enterprise, where the Feds claimed it was “an old-fashioned call-girl ring”. The scandal surrounding Governor Eliot Spitzer included his involvement with a prostitution ring. Governor Eliot Spitzer allegedly paid $4,300 for a single meeting with “Kristen”, who was the Emperor’s Club prostitute who met with Governor Eliot Spitzer at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington. The D.C. Madam, Deborah Jeane Palfrey, stated that “We charged between $200 and $300,” which “…wasn’t even in the prostitution price range. This whole scandal helps my case considerably.”
Deborah Jeane Palfrey while she answers questions from the media taken from an article by Conant printed in Newsweek on June 4, 2007.
Another example of scandals and trials is the “Hollywood Madam” case. When Heidi Fleiss was arrested, some of Hollywood’s biggest names were afraid that she would...
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