MANHATTAN — The Morgan Stanley banker with ties to alleged millionaire madam Anna Gristina has been temporarily suspended from his job, a spokesman at the financial giant said.
David Walker, who allegedly met with Gristina just before she was busted for running a multi-million dollar prostitution service, has been put on leave pending the outcome of the Manhattan District Atttorney's investigation, as well as an internal probe the bank is conducting, Morgan Stanley spokesman Mark Lake said.
In an exclusive interview with DNAinfo at his Midtown apartment Wednesday, Walker defended Gristina as a "caring woman" and "mom next door."
He said the pig-loving alleged madam had many other connections at his high-powered firm.
"She had plenty of other people at Morgan Stanley, I don't know why they're talking about me," he said.
Walker said he and Gristina met through mutual friends years ago. "I never had any business dealings with her," he said.
The banker didn't comment when asked if he had been contacted by the DA's office or Morgan Stanley investigators. He said he was at home Wednesday because he was "sick."
Prosecutors said at Gristina's Feb. 23 arraignment that she was arrested while meeting with an unnamed Morgan Stanley banker who she'd been trying to convince to help her expand her empire online.
Walker was identified later by sources close to the case.
Prosecutors say Gristina counts very influential people among her network. "She has business contacts worldwide," said Assistant District Attorney Charles Linehan at the Feb. 23 arraignment, adding that Gristina "claimed to have made millions over the 15 or so years, she has been in business as a madam."
"She counts many high wealths [sic] among her friends and clients," he added, according to a transcript of the hearing.
