Disgraced “Love Gov” Eliot Spitzer dodged federal charges Thursday in the prostitution scandal that destroyed his career.

After avoiding indictment and further humiliation, the one-time pit bull prosecutor publicly acknowledged his interstate trysts with high-end hookers for the first time since the scandal broke in March.

“I acknowledge and accept responsibility for the conduct [the investigation] disclosed,” Spitzer said in a statement, again apologizing for his sexual shenanigans.

The nine-month federal probe found no misuse of public or campaign money, but it confirmed Spitzer was a repeat client of the Emperors Club VIP and arranged multiple hookups with traveling call girls.

The former governor “acknowledged … that he was a client of, and made payments to, the Emperors Club VIP,” Manhattan U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia said.

Garcia said there was no need to file charges because Spitzer used personal money to pay for the trysts. The Justice Department usually doesn’t prosecute johns.

Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau also said he would not prosecute Spitzer.

“The guy lost his job, apologized and was publicly embarrassed. I don’t believe in kicking someone when they’re down,” he said, noting, “It would only be a misdemeanor anyway.”

Spitzer, in his second year as governor, resigned March 13 after he was captured on a government wiretap booking a $4,300 hooker for a Washington liaison.

Spitzer’s role soon became public – along with the details of his lurid evening with buxom brunette New Jersey girl Ashley Dupre.

The pair spent two hours inside room 871 of the Mayflower Hotel on the night before Valentine’s Day, while Spitzer’s wife, Silda, was home in Manhattan.

In addition to Dupre’s fee, Spitzer, 49, picked up the tab for the tattooed 22-year-old’s train ticket from Manhattan, her cab fare and drinks from the hotel room’s minibar.

Dupre’s lawyer, Don Buchwald, had no comment on the feds’ decision, but said, “Ashley is pleased that this matter is behind her.”

Reports indicated Spitzer spent up to $80,000 on prostitutes – and that he preferred to keep his socks on during sex.

Four others linked to the Emperors Club have pleaded guilty to federal charges. The lawyer for hooker booker Tanya Hollander, who faces a year in jail, said she deserves the same sentence as Spitzer: no time.

“Spitzer is much the more egregious actor here,” lawyer Michael Farkas said. “And it is Tanya Hollander, a minor participant, facing jail. That’s just not right.”

Source: NY Daily News