It will be held on April 19.
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The conviction of former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has shaken NY politics and provoked fresh calls to overhaul a government with a long history of corruption. “Because there would be no time for a party primary on such short notice, the Democratic and Republican County Committee members for the 65th Assembly District would directly choose candidates for both parties”. (The governor and heads of the state’s Senate and Assembly wielded massive amounts of power by meeting in secret together and deciding the direction of New York.) But Silver was found guilty of extortion and fraud, crimes that could land him a 130-year jail sentence. Former Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, R-Nassau County, is also on trial, accused of using his influence to enrich his son. “There will be zero tolerance for the violation of the public trust in NY”. “We will continue to work to root out corruption and demand more of elected officials when it comes to ethical conduct”. Tighter campaign finance laws, restrictions on lawmakers’ outside income and stronger ethics enforcement are among the ideas that have been offered.
Following the verdict, Silver’s attorney Steven F. Molo said the defense was “obviously disappointed in the verdict, and we intend to file vigorous post-trial motions seeking to set it aside”, The New York Times reported.
Juror Arleen Phillips was unsure if prosecutors were correct when they said ex- Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver had abused his office by receiving millions of dollars in kickbacks from companies with business before the state.
Silver did not testify and called no witnesses. Meanwhile, testimony and evidence revealed, Silver caused $500,000 in taxpayer funds to go to Taub’s research projects and helped his son and daughter get a job and an internship.
Silver, 71, was convicted Monday of receiving $5 million in improper fees from law firms for referrals.
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Juror Arleen Phillips, who asked the judge to be excused from the case during deliberations because she said her fellow jurors were making her uncomfortable, eventually voted to convict.
