« Previous | Main | Next »

Accused Las Vegas 'Madam' Claims She Only Did Makeup for Bill Clinton

June 19, 2007 11:24 AM

Accused_las_veg_mnThe lawyer for an accused Las Vegas "Madam" says she did work for Bill Clinton but only to provide makeup, not girls.

Alleged "Madam" Esperanza Brooks told undercover officers her clients "range from 'Shaqille [sic] O'Neal to Bill Clinton,'" according to a police report obtained by the Blotter on ABCNews.com.

In the report, Brooks is quoted as saying she employed 40 girls who were "very discrete and only go with upscale people."

"These are not your average girls," Brooks said. "Some of them have worked with Bill Clinton."

In his first interview since his client's arrest, Brooks' attorney Michael Sanft told ABC News his client did indeed work with both Bill Clinton and Shaquille O'Neal, but only in her professional capacity as a makeup artist when the two men made public appearances in Las Vegas.

Brooks was working as a volunteer "cheerleading coach" for the Andre Agassi Academy for underprivileged youth in Las Vegas when she was arrested on charges of operating a "prostitution out call operation."

Attorney Sanft denies Esperanza was operating a prostitution ring, saying she has no prior arrests and never had 40 girls working for her.

"Her judgment was blurred by her eagerness to make a quick buck. She was misread and misinterpreted as a 'madam' as she tried to play herself up as something that she wasn't," he said.

A spokesman for former President Bill Clinton declined to comment to ABC News, but last week told the New York Post, in which the arrest was reported, "Apparently, total fabrications that get made up in Vegas don't stay in Vegas."

The Las Vegas sheriff now says a subsequent investigation found Brooks' statements to undercover police were "made in an attempt to inflate Brooks' claim that she was a madam with high end clientele." The sheriff concluded that the statement was "not true at the time it was made, nor is there evidence that it ever was true."

The sheriff's department spokesman said he did not know if the Clintons or O'Neal had contacted them or prompted the sheriff's statement, saying only that the volume of calls about the arrest report prompted them to issue the statement.

Attorney Sanft says he plans to examine the full undercover tape recordings and evidence before advising his client on how to plead.

Esperanza is out on bond and is scheduled to appear in court on July 9.

Do you have a tip for Brian Ross and the Investigative Team?

June 19, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (44)

User Comments

Feed You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.

Who really cares?

Posted by: Jazz | Jun 19, 2007 12:01:03 PM

Can't hardly wait for the character assassinaters/theory experts start posting.

Posted by: Roy | Jun 19, 2007 12:08:09 PM

It figures...Shame on you, ABC...always trying to associate sex with Bill Clinton. A cheap shot..seeing that the story is really not about him. Hate when the media does that, with ANYONE.

Posted by: rglines | Jun 19, 2007 12:18:16 PM

Why is ABC associating this woman with Bill Clinton? I do not like the media always associating BC with illicite activity. It's wrong, using it for attention.

Posted by: rglines | Jun 19, 2007 12:27:04 PM

This headline is totally misleading, which I think was intentional on the part of ABC. You should check facts before you print misleading headlines such as this. Most people don't take time to read through the articles before forming opinions. I've noticed this to be a trend not just on this particular story, but on most all of this site's stories. ABC - get it together please. You don't need to imply slanderous material to hook an audience. Just give us the facts. If I wanted gossip and innuendo I would read the Enquirer or tune in to E!

Posted by: headlineobjector | Jun 19, 2007 12:50:03 PM

It's sooo refreshing that you can't associate President Bush with these unsavory caracters like Bill Clinton did. The Clinton's will never see the White House again and you democrates need to realize that, it's off limits to them, the public will not tolerate them back. The Clintons', please let's just move on....I'd prefer to see Michael Moore as president and I'm a ultra conservative republican.

Posted by: ruben | Jun 19, 2007 1:00:17 PM

Well, the nice thing about Bill Clinton is you always knew he was not gay :)

Posted by: Sherman59 | Jun 19, 2007 1:02:08 PM

Don't worry Hillary will just pay her off like she does all of Bill's women.

Posted by: Flander Anapolis | Jun 19, 2007 1:06:17 PM

ABC is cheap and unprofessional

Posted by: bb | Jun 19, 2007 1:17:28 PM

I agree that most "news" organizations including ABC (unfortunately) and AP willfully and purposely use misleading and inflammatory headlines not for the purpose of informing the public but moreover for entertainment value disguised as news to further keep and promote a greater following. Instead of "keeping up with the Jones'" it's "keeping up with FOX News!" Gross!!! Where is the oversight and accountability? With the public? Then perfectly positioned they are...

Posted by: libratine | Jun 19, 2007 1:19:50 PM

The headline, perhaps should have read, "Make up artist that worked with Bill Clinton is accused of being Las Vegas Madam".

Makes a big difference on who the focus of attention is on, doesn't it?

Then again, I'm not pulling down a salary as an editor, so really, what could I possibly know about it.

Posted by: Zach | Jun 19, 2007 1:20:22 PM

I do not understand all this fuss about this girl. Men are supposed to have fun and if necessary pay some cute girls for a nice time. There is no difference between paying a beautiful chick to provide a nice time to a guy and payin a tip for a waitress in a restaurant. Tell the prosecutor and the police to arrest drug dealers, the Vegas mob, corrupt politicians who endorse killing abroad and in Iraq.

Posted by: evcj | Jun 19, 2007 1:22:47 PM

We need a change. Please not another Clinton as president. Bush/Clinton/Bush......please please not another Clinton.

Posted by: a2fly | Jun 19, 2007 1:25:19 PM

Wow, the neo cons are really getting desparte. They are trying to dig real deep of course I think that they should just give it up becasue we didn't care when he was President and a good one at that.

Posted by: ant | Jun 19, 2007 1:27:25 PM

First it was exposing U.S. secrets regarding a secret war w/ Iran. Now, this article trying to insinuate that Bill Clinton has improper relations with another woman, when it is clearly stated that it was for makeup before an appearance. ABC News is really stooping low nowadays and this is quite upsetting.

Posted by: American | Jun 19, 2007 1:29:07 PM

I'm a conservative Republican, and I also agree this is just a cheap shot at Bill Clinton. Where is the newsworthiness of this article?

On the other hand, maybe you had to run it or be faulted by my conservative brethren for "covering up" something.

I guess you just can't win.

Posted by: Fred Goodwin | Jun 19, 2007 1:39:19 PM

If ABC is soooo interested in Madame's (etc.) why didn't they EXPOSE THE NAMES ON THE DC MADAME'S LIST????? Huh ABC???? What gives????? Who are you trying to cover up for?????

Posted by: artist22 | Jun 19, 2007 1:39:40 PM

My post refers to the first five on the comments section. Each post is right and says something about interactivity in upholding standards. This is a non-story or one that needs thorough follow-up before dissemination. I think ABC in showcasing a user-friendy, informative, interactive news site in constant need of updating is forgetting why people navigate here--including journalism school directors like myself--and that is, alas, to read the news. When ABC has documentation that a madam is connected with Bill Clinton, by all means, disseminate it; but not when story content seems to be based on quotes rather than facts. It's a disservice to all involved--the readers, the quoted, and to ABC itself.

Posted by: Michael Bugeja | Jun 19, 2007 1:43:27 PM

ABC? Check facts?

It is to laugh.

Posted by: Apprentice to Darth Holden | Jun 19, 2007 1:44:32 PM

Seems like people don't like it when it hits a Democrat in the head. Hey here is a twist on it. It is all Bushs fault. If his father had caught her then this would not be happening today. Grab a Havana and live with it.

Posted by: ArmyRetiredSFC | Jun 19, 2007 1:56:43 PM

Post a comment