Patrizia D'Addario, 42, a prostitute from Bari in southern Italy, claims she secretly taped Mr Berlusconi during a night she claims to have spent with him at the premier's home in November. In the tapes, which were obtained by the Italian press, a man identified as Mr Berlusconi is heard telling her to wait for him on "the big bed" while he takes a shower.
Mr Berlusconi, who this week became the longest-serving leader in Italy's post-war history, said that he was considerin legal action, alleging that he had been the "victim of an attack by a person who wanted to create a scandal". He added that Miss D'Addario would have to answer before an Italian court for the "four crimes" she had committed, although he did not specify what they were.
Suffice to say that the maximum penalty for the four crimes that this person has committed would amount to 18 years in prison. The three-times prime minister, whose wife is seeking a divorce over his womanising, has never denied sleeping with Miss D'Addario. But he says he neither paid her nor knew she was a prostitute. Miss D'Addario, who last month told the Daily Telegraph that she was being persecuted by the political establishment and likened herself to Joan of Arc, responded by challenging the prime minister to a public debate.
She said it should focus on "relations between men and women, techniques of conquest, sex and power. He denied knowing that any of them were prostitutes, saying that he understood that they were simply friends of Mr Tarantini.
Terms and Conditions. Style Book. Weather Forecast. Accessibility links Skip to article Skip to navigation. Thursday 28 November Silvio Berlusconi threatens to sue call girl Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian prime minister, is considering legal action against a high-class escort girl, accusing her of "attacking" his reputation by claiming to have had sex with him.
