WASHINGTON ( CNN ) -- Larry Flynt 's Hustler magazine claimed credit for exposing Sen. David Vitter 's connection to the `` D.C. Madam '' Tuesday , saying Vitter confessed after a journalist reported finding the senator 's number in the escort service 's phone records . Sen. David Vitter apologized after his telephone number appeared among those linked to an escort service . `` Larry Flynt 's ongoing investigation into the dirty secrets of prominent elected officials has exposed another hypocrite , '' Hustler said . Vitter , R-Louisiana , admitted Monday that his telephone number turned up in the phone records of an escort service run by Deborah Jeane Palfrey , though he did not say he had sex with a prostitute . The records date from before he won his Senate seat in 2004 . `` This was a very serious sin in my past for which I am , of course , completely responsible , '' Vitter said in a statement given to reporters Monday night . `` Several years ago , I asked for and received forgiveness from God and from my wife in confession and marriage counseling . '' Vitter , 46 , represented New Orleans suburbs in the House of Representatives from 1999 to 2004 , when he ran for the Senate . He is married and has four children . Watch what some in Vitter 's state say about the admission » . Vitter was one of the top backers of a failed constitutional amendment that would have banned same-sex marriage and serves as the Southern regional chairman of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani 's presidential campaign . In his Monday statement , he offered his `` deep and sincere apologies to all I have disappointed and let down in any way . '' Palfrey was indicted in March on charges of money laundering and racketeering stemming from her business , Pamela Martin & Associates , which prosecutors allege was involved in prostitution . Palfrey has denied the charges , saying she operated a legitimate escort service . In an effort to raise money for her legal defense , Palfrey tried to sell a telephone list containing names of more than 10,000 clients . A judge blocked her from selling the information , but she provided some of the documents to media outlets . Dan Moldea , an investigative journalist working with Palfrey on a book , told CNN that he discovered Vitter 's number in Palfrey 's phone records and passed the information to Flynt . `` I had no idea who he was prior to then , although I 'm sure he was a client and he 's stated accordingly , but I do n't remember this man , '' Palfrey said . Hustler said an editor at the magazine called Vitter 's office for a response Monday evening , spurring Vitter to issue his statement to The Associated Press . Paul Colford , a spokesman for the wire service , said Vitter 's statement `` came into the AP 's New Orleans bureau without prior contact from the AP . '' Flynt took out a full-page ad in The Washington Post in June to offer $ 1 million for `` documented evidence of illicit sexual or intimate relations with a congressman or senator . '' Flynt launched a similar campaign in 1998 in an effort to counter the drive to impeach then-President Bill Clinton over allegations that he had lied about his relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky . Moldea worked with Flynt in that effort as well . Moldea told CNN that he is a paid consultant for Flynt and Hustler and is not eligible for the $ 1 million prize . Hustler 's search led to the resignation of House Speaker-designate Robert Livingston -- whose congressional seat Vitter won the next year . `` Flynt 's team is currently continuing its investigation into improprieties by other high-ranking elected officials , '' Hustler announced . Vitter is the first lawmaker known to be linked to Palfrey 's business , though State Department official Randall Tobias -- who promoted abstinence education as head of the Bush administration 's effort to curb the spread of AIDS -- resigned in May after confirming he patronized Palfrey 's business . Campaigning in New Hampshire on Tuesday , Giuliani said Vitter 's apparent connection to the Palfrey case was a `` personal issue . '' But he admitted , `` Some people disappoint you . '' Vitter 's disclosure follows the June resignation of Giuliani 's South Carolina campaign chairman , State Treasurer Thomas Ravenel , who was indicted on cocaine charges . Giuliani told reporters Tuesday `` it 's too early to tell '' if Vitter will leave his campaign , and said he should not be judged on the problems of some people associated with his campaign or with his administration as New York mayor . E-mail to a friend . CNN 's Brianna Keilar , Sean Callebs , Steve Brusk and Ninette Sosa contributed to this report .
Magazine says its phone call prompted senator 's confession . Publisher Larry Flynt had offered reward for information . Journalist working on book with alleged madam notified Flynt . Sen. David Vitter admits his phone number appears in escort service 's records .