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Stephen Colbert Grills Eliot Spitzer About Banks, the Economy and His Late-Night Plans

By Heather Grossmann | February 3, 2010 7:52am | Updated on February 4, 2010 3:25pm

By Heather Grossmann

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

MANHATTAN — The day after taking on potential U.S. Senate candidate Harold Ford Jr., late-night political pundit Stephen Colbert had another New York pol in his comedic clutches — former "Luv Gov" Eliot Spitzer.

Colbert welcomed the disgraced politician back to the "The Colbert Report" Tuesday night, nearly two years after Spitzer was outed as "Client 9" in a federal prostitution probe.

"Do you have any big plans after the show tonight?" Colbert asked Spitzer. The ex-governor replied that he was going straight home.

"I condemn you, I condemn you, I condemn you. You are condemned, fully condemned by me," Colbert quipped. "But I like you."

Eliot Spitzer, seen here on his way into The Colbert Report in early February, is furious about a new book on his resignation.
Eliot Spitzer, seen here on his way into The Colbert Report in early February, is furious about a new book on his resignation.
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Jennifer Glickel/DNAinfo

Spitzer's appearance allowed him to reprise his former role as the "Sheriff of Wall Street."

The former state attorney general lashed out at banks for causing the financial crisis, saying that they had gambled with taxpayer money instead of investing it in the American economy.

Spitzer complained that the banking system was being rebuilt exactly as it existed before the financial crisis.

When Colbert, playing his role as a pro-big business Republican wonk, said that he wanted to stick up for his banking buddies, Spitzer sarcastically agreed, responding, "We don't want to regulate an industry that has just destroyed our economy."

Colbert closed the show by reasoning that the reappointment of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, who "oversaw the collapse of the world financial system," must have given Spitzer hope for being reelected governor of New York.

"He screwed everybody!" Colbert said.

Eliot Spitzer on his way into The Colbert Report. Feb. 2, 2010
Eliot Spitzer on his way into The Colbert Report. Feb. 2, 2010
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Jennifer Glickel/DNAinfo