May 7, 2007
D.C. Madam: 'I'm Saying That With a Straight Face'
On Friday, Deborah Jeane Palfrey made her much-hyped prime time television debut on 20/20, chatting with Brian Ross about her D.C. escort business but saying her "gals" didn't engage in illegal activities. Ross was a bit incredulous that she actually believed no sex was taking place, but Palfrey quickly confirmed that said face was indeed straight, pointing to a contract her escorts signed saying they would be fired if any criminal activity took place.
While reports earlier in the week tempered expectations of sensational revelations, the piece wasn't relegated to the final minutes of the show, and a few noteworthy tidbits did come out. Palfrey described her employees as "very nice" women who she encouraged to sport the "Ann Taylor look" when visiting clients in D.C.'s upscale hotels like the Hay-Adams and Mayflower. She also claimed that Brandy Britton, the University of Maryland professor who committed suicide after being arrested for prostitution last year, was in her employ. A legal secretary from the Washington firm Akin Gump also fielded calls to Pamela Martin and Associates when Palfrey was unavailable.
When in came to the 46 lbs. client list, though, even Ross sounded disappointed. He confirmed that ABC news found the names of former Deputy Secretary of State Randall Tobias and policy analyst Harlan Ullman in Palfrey's phone records. Among other men who "had some gals over" are a Justice Department prosecutor, NASA officials, CEOs, lobbyists, and several military officials. A head-shaking Ross added, "but, as usually the case in Washington, much of it is dull. There are no members of Congress we could find in these records, no White House officials, quite frankly, but for the few exceptions, most of the men on this list just aren't newsworthy." We're sorry if D.C. is too dull for Ross, but we're betting that his dismissive attitude towards the case isn't shared by the rest of the media or Palfrey's nervous clients.
What did you think of Palfrey's performance? Does this nine-minute piece put a period on your interest in the case?

What a whore.
amazing that the media is pronouncing this as "no big deal", makes me wonder what names they are hiding.
And this is always going to exist, so just legalize it.
what are the names? why not release the names and let the public decide what's newsworthy. ``NASA officials, CEOs, lobbyists, and several military officials''sounds newsworthy to me
We want to hear who used her services. Let the whore speak before the Lord casts her down with his fire.
All our dubious celebrities speak with a straight face. Why? Botox.
I hear there are interview being auctioned on eBay this week - hopefully there will be better tidbits of info without the influence of the network suits
Hey Nicole check out Prostitutionprocon.org for the legalization debate. Apparently D.C. arrests 700+ a year on prostitution
I think Brian Ross and ABC did the right thing. There are several more important things NEWS organizations need to be covering. If you want a "who's sleeping with who" saga, watch a soap opera! There happens to be a war going on where thousands of innocent people are dying, perhaps we should be talking about that instead.
I thought 20/20 dealt exclusively with the murder cases of attractive, white, middle-class people.