NEW YORK, NY March 14, 2008 —Even though Gov. Eliot Spitzer is leaving office his legal troubles have taken on a life of their own. WNYC's Bob Hennelly has more.

None of the four defendants who were arrested for their alleged role in the prostitution ring have yet to be actually indicted.

Legal experts say the period between being charged and indicted is when defendants have the best chance to cut a deal. Gov. Spitzer has found himself in the mix of a big cast of unnamed customers and alleged prostitutes, any of whom could end up as witnesses or defendants. Spitzer has retained renowned criminal defense lawyer Ted Wells.

The alleged mastermind 62-year-old Mark Brener is in Federal custody without bail and represented by a public defender. His 23-year-old housemate Cecil Suwal remains in custody unable to make the bail set at $500,000. The two other defendants were released.

Meanwhile the Spitzer scandal has had reverberations within the state's top law enforcement agency. For the second time in his short tenure, the state police find themselves on the defensive.

Last year the police force was taken to task for helping the governor's staffers try and smear Republican State Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno. Now they are on the defensive about just what the Governor's State police security detail knew about Spitzer's liaisons.

For WNYC I am Bob Hennelly.