Long-time former State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver was convicted on Monday of federal corruption charges.
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The Brunswick Republican – whose corruption conviction was undone by a Supreme Court decision, and who was acquitted in a second trial – was arrested months after his exit from the Legislature, whereas Silver plummeted from the height of power just after the start of the 2015 session.
The rapid downfall was as shocking to lawmakers as it was troubling to longtime observers of NY politics.
Because he was convicted of multiple felonies, Silver was automatically removed from the Assembly. The federal jury in Manhattan returned the verdict Monday after a three-week trial.
Once considered to be one of the most powerful men in Albany, it’s safe to say New Yorkers will never see Sheldon Silver’s face here at the Capitol again.
Silver, who remains free on bail until a sentencing date not yet set, plans to appeal.
But prosecutors maintained that Silver was guilty of bribery and extortion.
Silver’s arrest came the day after Gov. Andrew Cuomo referred to Skelos, Silver and himself as the “three amigos” during a budget presentation.
For the full New York Times article, go here.
Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb says the assembly needs to make more ethics reforms in Albany. There may not have been explicit deals where Silver exchanged official state favors for payoffs through his legal firms, but the jury said there was enough smoke to know there was fire. “With the allegations proven, it is time for the Legislature to take seriously the need for reform”. Glenwood, one of the two developers involved in the case, has been a prominent user of the state’s “LLC loophole”, a quirk in campaign finance law that treats limited liability corporations as individuals rather than corporations, allowing them to give far more money than other companies.
It is now up to Governor Cuomo to call a special election to replace the former speaker. A lengthy investigation found that the Assembly speaker made unlawful income from a real estate law firm and asbestos client referrals.
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Prosecutors said Silver delivered tax-abatement and rent-control legislation that favored developers while big developers hired a small law firm that secretly sent him $700,000 in fees. At the top end of the scale, and perhaps of greater interest to the audience, is Hillary Clinton, who has more than a few political donors in common with Silver.
