In his long tenure (1999-2006) as New York's attorney general, Spitzer honed a reputation as a hard-charging prosecutor who brooked no compromises when it came to enforcing the law.

NPR: Gov. Spitzer Resigns amid Call-Girl Scandal

He was operating a blind pool, in which investors had no real idea what they owned or how it was performing, relying on Mr. Madoff who reported metronomic returns, brooked no nosiness into his methods, and seemed always willing to pay off investors who wanted to withdraw their money.

WSJ: Put Madoff In Charge of Social Security