Former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, a Hillary Clinton ally and once one of the most powerful politicians in the state, is going to be spending much of his remaining life in jail for corruption.
Silver was sentenced to 12 years in prison Tuesday, capping one of the steepest falls from grace in political history. And he may be joined by another powerful Democrat, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, soon.
A stern Judge Valerie Caproni announced the sentence months after the 72-year-old Manhattan Democrat was convicted in a $5 million corruption case.
She also imposed a $1.75 million fine and a $5.3 million forfeiture.
The conviction represented a stunning plunge for a man who was one of the state’s three most powerful political figures for two decades. And it was more pronounced given the conviction at a separate trial of his former Senate counterpart — Republic ex-Majority Leader Dean Skelos. Skelos was found guilty of using his position to arrange payments and a job for his son.
Silver and Skelos comprised two of the so-called “three men in a room” who control state government, and their cases produced marquee convictions in Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara’s ongoing quest to clean up a state government he has called a “cauldron of corruption.” More than 30 other state lawmakers have left office under a cloud of criminal or ethical allegations since 2000.
The third man in the room, Cuomo, promised sweeping reforms to New York’s anti-corruption laws after last year’s convictions. But so far, there has been no significant action.
Bharara also is investigating Cuomo’s office, looking into potential conflicts of interest and improper bidding in a signature state economic development program in Buffalo. The prosecutor also is examining consulting work done by one of Cuomo’s former top aides in 2014, when the aide spent eight months on leave. In response, Cuomo’s administration is conducting an internal review.
The gray-haired, bespectacled Silver was first elected in 1976 and served as speaker for 21 years, becoming the classic Albany insider with the power to control bills and state spending singlehandedly in backroom negotiations. Known for his often inscrutable comments and wary, phlegmatic demeanor, Silver gained the nickname “the Sphinx.”
Silver was a close pal of Clinton as well, having endorsed and raised funds for her for years.
According to political analysts, Silver may still hold political influence even from jail — and could still be looking to help Clinton.
“Despite his conviction on federal corruption charges, he’s still a DNC member and is entitled to his superdelegate slot,” writes Rita Ciolli of Newsday, saying that Silver “has not resigned from the prestigious DNC post, so the party, which doesn’t have an official process for removing members who are felons, is trying to figure out how to oust him.”
“If not, the hot potato will go to the DNC credentials committee, which will have to decide whether to seat Silver at the convention,” Ciolli concludes.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
seems like the proper place for this hack and thief, and briber, maybe he can save a space next to him for hIllary, coming soon.
How anti-Semitic.
????? – don’t understand, George — what is anti-Semitic about this?
George has learned a new word but don’t know what it means!!!!!
Why worry about George’s comment right or wrong instead of the stupidity that a criminal can remain a member of DNC! That’s about as stupid as preventing an ex felon from being on a police department but not from being mayor that in most cases runs the police department! So in this case if he remains, a criminal will be able to help the criminal running for President but it will be a waste of time! Go Trump!
You George are a typical cool aid drinking DOUCHE BAG
Hillary has many wonderful friends such as this one. Every since the female became a voter America is and has been all down hill. They do not have the mental credentials anywhere near the male species. An example is the number of white women who voted for Obama twice in seven years and will put Hillary in office for the next eight years knowing Obama and Hillary are Communist Progressives inside and out.
Excellent point! Like CROOKED HILLARY!
agreed
the reason so many white women were voting for Obama is because black men are suppose to be bigger then white men,ask the Hollywood harlots that voted,some even thought theyed bump michelle out and be first lady remember??
How did u figure that? Reaching for the racist card again?
I refer the the antiseptic remark
Does this mean He cannot be Hillary’s VP nominee? I’m waiting for the DNC to announce Biden and Cherokee Warren as Hildabeasts replacement.
“Cherokee Warren” is probably not a term many democrats/liberals are familiar with since they all seem to have a affinity for lies and dishonesty. However, most Conservatives know exactly what it means.
“Cherokee Warren ” is probably not a term most democrats/liberals are familiar with because they all seem to have an affinity for lies and deceit. However conservatives know exactly what it means.
I’ve heard two nicknames for Warren: “Faux-cahontas” and “Lie-awatha”. I thought they were pretty appropriate.
Now, now give Lie-Awatha some respect. Her supposed Cherokee Ancestor was a Government Indian agent whose job it was to bring back Cherokees dead-or-alive who he caught trying to return to the South East. In the spirit of Environmentalism Warren’s Faux Cherokee Ancestor even dismembered the dead Red Men so he could recycle the lead ball he killed Hiawatha with so he could reuse the lead to kill another Indian but get reimbursed for new ammunition. Therefor Senator Warren has Indian blood, but it is on her hands not in her veins.
Another bits the dust for Hillary Clinton. She always gets out and everyone else goes to jail.
Somehow I don’t think she will get out of all the crimes she has committed. Only way could be if Obama pardoned her. But timer has it that he is going to suspend the election. We could be heading into another Civil War. He is as crooked as the rest. Makes illegal laws as he goes along. Thinks he’s the dictator when all he is is a div.
HELLARY FOR PRISON!
YES, SHE SHOULD HAVE A CELL NEXT TO HIM!
She should be bedded down with Al Sharpton and a whole bunch of tax evaders.
The only help he should be able to give her should be to teach her the ropes in prison for when she lands in there. This isn’t the first time a Clownton friend has landed in prison for corruption, they have A LONG LIST OF THEM!!! She’s probably banking on getting elected so she can just pardon him and put him back to work, raising money for her corruption machine.
We can only hope that both of the Clinton’s are found guilty of the same crimes as their friends and spend a nice long term prison sentence.
Do you wish all the people paying taxes pay to keep them in jail? Well I do not wish this. I think they should be shipped to some nice place such as the middle east countries so they can see what they caused in what they did for the love of money.
Hilary seems to be able to do whatever she wants. She should have been brought down long ago. Where there is smoke there is fire but in the Case of Clinton there is an inferno of lies and deceit. Perhaps these are now the new essential qualifications to be ‘president’? What is taking the FBI so long to prosecute her? Perhaps she will award Obama with a knighthood for all his help??
Now it is her turn to get hers! This thief has gotten away with to much over the years, close the loops and get her an orange jumpsuit
There is no end to the corruption in politics.
No surprise here !!!!
But why did it take so long ??????
That’s because the Justice System in this country has been almost completely compromised and is run by people on the left….currently. But!..that will be changing very soon.
You mean crooks.
Elizabeth: Yesterday I read that the DOJ AG Looney Lynch now wants to stop referring to crooks as criminals. Rather wants to use, wait for it, “Judicially-Involved Individual”. I guess she feels more comfortable being called that, as well as labeling Ali Obama & Chillary Klanton with this insanely PC BS moniker.
Stay Well, Safe, Free & Brave
PS: Have a Happy Mother’s Day
Yes, it’s true the Department of Justice is indeed a political entity and is controlled to a degree by the current administration – in this case President Obama’s cronies! Crooked Hillary is being shielded at the moment – AND if you or I had done what she did with he email scandals and selling out political favors for monetary donations to the Clinton Foundation we’d be in jail right now! How do you think she and Bill made all their millions? The Political hacks in this country have gotten so corrupt now that it’s no longer funny anymore! What we really need to do is toss them all out on their asses – just as quickly as we can do iut! Because they care absolutely nothing anymore about the safety of the American people! They’re only interested in feathering their own nests! A good example is; Obama and the Democrats have been admitting as many legal or illegal immigrants as possible into this country in order to increase their voter base! AND these idiot politicians really don’t care about our safety or the eventual ruin of the USA because they don’t know how many terrorists have been coming in with them – and they obviously don’t care! I say Donald Trump is absolutely correct – we need to stop the immigrations and deport all the illegals (the undocumented Democrats) who are already here – get them out of the US until we can find out who they are and what their intentions are toward Americans! Then they can re-apply for admission and return – legally – this time around! – not like the sneaky bastards they have been! Who knows exactly how many of the ISIS bad guys Obama has allowed to infiltrate into this country – and into our neighborhoods? there are probably thousands of them here already – getting set up to do harm to as may of us as they can! . So, we had better get ourselves armed and ready for them. God bless our forefathers and their visions for the SECOND AMENDMENT rights of Americans to be armed! If Obama could have done it . . . he would have had the Bill of Rights and the Second Amendment – abolished already by now because I truly believe the ISIS radicals are his pals! AND he’s one of them! AND Crooked Hillary is a second hand ISIS sympathizer! Whatever works best for her is what she always goes for! She’s another one of those politicians who believes she should always “tell them what they want to hear” – even when she does not mean it!
we need to get a business man to run our country. one who works for a living not one who works for the govt. we are last I saw 17,000,000,000,000,000,00 in debt. that’s a lo of debt….
He should not be seated as a delegate, he is a convicted criminal! What is wrong with our society to even consider allowing him to be seated!
Exactly
OH but KILLERY will INSIST…..They both NEED a GUTMO Water Boarding Session Just to see if LYING is Really in their DNA or an acquired SICKNESS
Even people in prison can’t vote,Oh ,I’m sorry ,That’s just for us regular people.
Yap! you are right. We are just tax payers.
So what was this political hack accused of and why is he still a super delegate?…….this article is another cover your eyes, rope a dope piece, good for nothing…..
It says he was convicted several months ago of a $5 mil corruption case. You would have to look it up to find out more details than that. It says he was found guilty of several charges of federal corruption which are usually done under the racketeering Act (RICO Act) which nearly always includes money laundering, bribery, paying witnesses and that type of thing.
ontime was not for reading class!!
The only thing that I would consider better was if Hillary had the cell next to his, but twelve years isn’t a adequate sentence for Hillary, she deserves much more.
I agree, Much, MUCH More time, the rest of her natural Life plus 10 years.
Not going to happen, the rich have different laws
Good for that judge! Sheldon Silver is a worm and a thief. My worry is that an appeal will reduce or overturn this sentence. Let’s hope not.
Now WHEN is the FBI going to get off of THEIR butts and make that criminal referral? I’ll bet Director Comey hasn’t even scheduled a face-to-face with her. And WHY would THD director meet with her? Because the Obama fix is in!
This is just the beginning both Hillary and her husband. Have been breaking the law for years more heat needs to be but on obama to let the indictment go through
Obama should be investigated next. I’m fairly sure there’s a good enough case for treason there.
They had on C-Span this week- end they do not want to interfere with the election, so it would be after November. Just mode political corruption.
The attorney General has already said she did not have to prosecute her, even if the FBI recommended it.
They want to wait until Obama is out of office so he can’t pardon her.
The only way Hilary will be brought to justice is if Trump takes the White House. The current administration will not act on this injustice that has been perpetrated upon the American people. So much for Obama’s transparent government.
It might be best is Hillary is found guilty after Trump is seated in the White House, if before Obama would pardon her.
Transparent government means, ” You can look right through it and never see anything wrong!”
I hope and pray that they find Hillary in her schemes and put her right beside him till she dies in prison where she belongs shes a liar,and a thief.
Don’t forget Benghazi, which makes her a murderer as well.
Vince Foster and Chris Stevens could not be reached for comment!
That’s right! Hilkary is the Butcher of Banghazi!
What a creep, do they ever have enough? Again I ask why the H would anyone vote for Hillary?
Think about it!!!!!!!!!
Because she promises free stuff
I guess that being a liar and felon qualifies one a shoo in to be able to win the Presidency . Maybe we have jobs after all ; Being a career criminal like clinton and her friends like Silver . Being a every day citizen is some what old school now days . Being honest is a word not heard of any more , but liar is the new word of the future of America . We are on a downward spiral if clinton gets in office . There is a light at the end of the elections and it should shine bright . The MAN and I say MAN is Donald J TRUMP . The way out is with electing a new person into the White House , and TRUMP IS THE WAY …TRUMP 2016 !!!!!!!!
Choo-choo!! Bring on the train and run over ALL the crooked people in Washington #TRUMP2016
Power corrupts absolutely. The “fix” lies in checks and balances. The individuals tasked with administering this oversight must be vetted for character and integrity. Not an easy process to follow, but without this proper action you end up with distrust and a total lack of confidence by the people who are supposed to be protected from these type acts of greed. In case folks forget, when the majority lose confidence in those governing or the system being used to govern, the system fails.
This is exactly where Hillary belongs in prison not the White House. Why is the FBI taking so long ?
Drinking the Clinton Kool-Aid.
Hillary will never go to trail as long as our evil dictator Oboma is in office!! God Help Us!!!
Maybe after Trump is seated in the White House he will take care of Hillary. This is what most Americans are wanting Trump to do.
Given her poor judgement ,which have been displayed several times, including putting lives at risk, no good American should vote for Clinton. This would be an act of treason. She has cost us to much. Otis
She should not be above the law, but God knows she’s a crook and we all know where she should be in jail along with other crooks like she is. GO TRUMP!!!!!
I thought a felon could not vote, how can he still be a super delegate?
He should not need to resign from the DNC … he should be automatically
expelled from being on the committee since he is now a convicted felon.
Anyone behind the scenes that has any connection with the Clintons to do with any money has a habit of getting into trouble. And on top of that do the Clintons stand by them, hell no. They have served their purpose.!!!!
The people get the government they deserve, by virtue of the last 7+ years. How else can you explain the current dictator
being elected for not only one but two terms. What in the world are people thinking?
Don’t forget that a company owned by George Soros makes the voting machines! How else could Obama get 110% of the vote in several districts and also have larger percentages voting in districts than are registered. And they will try to do this again, have no doubt. Amazing how many point to the money Trump has made, but never think twice about people like Soros, who got his start selling out his own Jewish people to the Naazis. Proven fact!!
I’ve voted in MANY elections. The OLD machines,I thought, were quite adequate. Why were they CHANGED. Perhaps to give more millions to the snake Soros. Yes, he BETRAYED the Jewish people & feathered his own nest. BUT he will stand in Judgement in the HIGHEST COURT one day (as we ALL shall) & we know HIS future !! !!
country. And people still don’t open their eyes & SEE what is SO VERY WRONG. I pray repentance will come upon this nation & GOD will have MERCY ON US ALL. hen I voted in the last election the young (& I MEAN Young) man in front of me looked like he couldn’t be more than 15 years old. The cemeteries gave up their Democratic VOTERS ALSO. I am VERY Concerned about my Great Grandchildren’s future !! I have to give up now . Half my sentences are disappearing & letters drop off. Sorry I can’t get my remarks properly in the text.
I really doubt that he was elected! I fully believe the DNC pulled a “Chicago” type nationwide election for him. I also understand that when Texas wanted to purged out names and addresses of people who had either moved or died that the DNC filed suite to prevent such a move and then “HE” was re-elected! (?????)
It is about time we get the corruption out of government, no matter if it is Democrat or Republican, and I also thought the term corruption started with the letter H and ended with y??? Probably more truth to that than you can imagine.
Every politician that misuses the power entrusted to them should face a similar outcome. Loss of freedom and loss of wealth should send a signal to every other politician who tries to turn their office into something that will benefit themselves.
Why are we all so amazed to see what it happening. We send our kids to Public Schools and then to Liberal Colleges who teach our kids the LIFT LIBERAL WAYS are the only ways. The Liberal Professors are in for LIFE to direct our young and so when they are almost out….the stand to vote for the BERN, and if not him, for KILLARY. Selling them all FREE COLLEGE and cancel their past loans. NO different than, Obama’s FREE condoms for all. HA, Ha, and everyone thought it was so funny! So run our DEBIT from SIX to NINETEEN TRILLION – $19,000,000,000,000.
SO FOLKS YOUR WORK IS CUT OUT FOR ME AND FOR YOU, if you care about your Grand and Great-Grand-kids and of course, do you care about AMERICA…………..LET’S PRAY AND ASK GOD TO BLESS ALL THAT DO CARE!
Don’t be afraid to share with your Families, Friends, and co-workers and at the Football Games, and even at your Churches.
We have ONLY six months………….Let’s do it !!
o’bammy’s pardon is signed but undated . They hope the supreme court will take care of him and only the illegals
and Hillary need to be pardoned.
Everyone needs to understand that the Democrat’s and Republicans are all one party. Just two sides of the same coin.
All insiders are for World Government. (THE NEW WORLD ORDER)
Trump 2016
If they put her in jail now, Obama can pardon her but if they wait until the election is over and some one else becomes President unless it is her then prosecute her. After Obama is out of the Government
Good to hear.
The question is; when is it Hillary’s turn?
Convicted felons can’t vote, but they can be super delegates. What a system.
Trump is up on RICO charges for laundering money with his pal Soros..but you don’t hear about that..do you?
How about Dean Skelos the REPUBLICAN majority leader of the New York Senate?? He is also going to get a long prison term for receiving kickbacks. Let’s not make it a Democratic thing please……
Have you not heard the current administration is going to allow all convicted fellons and illegals to vote
Yes, But if they have served their time and paid their dues to society I think for first offenders they should be allowed to vote.
Neither will win. Bernie Sanders will be president
I really hope that not only Killary but also Andrew Cuomo goes to Prison for the rest of their Natural life. This would be so sweet. 2 for the price of one. Nail them to the wall. Get rid of most of the Corruption by charging & the scum being Convicted all at once.
Hope Clinton adviser names names big time, take Em Down.
Or Trump will for sure.
Two down and two to go! Hillary Clinton and Andrew Cuomo!
Yawnnnnn…. More corruption associations with Hillary Rotten Clinton.
How appropriate!
First, Clinton crony and Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe signs an executive order allowing former felons in Virginia to vote. Then a different Clinton crony from New York gets sentenced to prison. And he is still allowed to vote! At the Democrat National Convention as a super-delegate, nonetheless.
But that’s just normal for Democrat party politics.
A typical Hillary supporter. Well, perhaps not typical but there do seem to be quite a number of her friends, associates, and supporters involved in criminal activities either in the past or the present. And of course she herself has been implicated in a number of questionable activities. If she goes to jail before the election does that mean we get stuck with that pathetic socialist Bernie Sanders as her replacement candidate? Or will they run in a ringer like that fool Joe Biden or that faux Indian Warren? That puts us American voters between a rock and a hard place. We know that any Democrat candidate will give us a four more years of the mess that are already in and that is not good. But we really don’t know what to expect from Donald Trump. However, not voting at all is not a good option. We all must vote and deal with the choices that are given to us and hope for the best. When a politician (any politician) makes a bad decision or presents a bad plan we must let our voices be heard. We must insist that Congress do its job to keep the Executive Branch in check and limit the President to that authority expressly granted by the Constitution. The President must be bound by the Oath of Office.
Americans are to blame. We keep allowing these criminals on both sides to gain more and more power and steal more and more of our hard earned money.
Hopefully, Hillary Clinton will be next. She deserves jail time just as much as he does, maybe more-so. After all, she was directly responsible for lives lost at Benghazi among a list of other infractions I could list but won’t. You’re all aware.
It makes me wonder when we’re bombarded with which Clinton did this, or that illegally, and never a grand jury. Are these stories for real, or not?