Former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver was convicted Monday in a $5 million corruption case that took down one of the state’s most powerful politicians and stunned a capital that had become accustomed to scandal.
Silver is a longtime friend and political ally of Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton, who will now have to answer questions about their relationship and the hearty endorsements she gave Silver over the years.
The jury verdict came after a three-week trial in which federal prosecutors claimed that the 71-year-old Democrat traded favors to enrich himself and then lied about it. The defense countered that the government was trying to criminalize the longtime routines of Albany politicians. His sentence could be as long as 20 years.
Even in a state capital where more than 30 lawmakers have left office facing criminal charges or allegations of ethical misconduct since 2000, the case against Silver was an extraordinary turn. An assemblyman since 1976, Silver was one of Albany’s most storied political figures, a consummate backroom operator with the power to decide the fate of legislation single-handedly.
His prosecution was a marquee case in Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara’s quest to clean up a state government he has called a “cauldron of corruption,” an effort that has led to the ongoing corruption trial of Republican state Senate leader Dean Skelos.
With Monday’s verdict, “Sheldon Silver got justice, and at long last, so did the people of New York,” Bharara, who had watched from the courtroom audience, said in a statement.
With the conviction, Silver automatically loses his Assembly seat. He had kept it while fighting the charges, although after his arrest he was stripped of the speakership he had held since 1994.
“Today, justice was served,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, said in a statement. “With the allegations proven, it is time for the Legislature to take seriously the need for reform. There will be zero tolerance for the violation of the public trust in New York.”
The leader of the Assembly’s Republican minority, Brian Kolb, called the conviction “a clear signal — again — to Albany: Enough is enough.” Current Speaker Carl Heastie, a Democrat and Silver’s successor, said he would “continue to work to root out corruption and demand more of elected officials when it comes to ethical conduct.”
After Silver’s arrest, the Legislature passed modest changes, including a requirement that lawmakers disclose more about their private income. But so far, lawmakers have balked at significant reforms, such as term limits, restrictions on legislators’ outside income, tighter campaign finance limits and tougher enforcement of ethics rules.
Prosecutors had argued that they proved Silver traded his office for riches: $4 million in kickbacks from a cancer researcher and real estate developers. Prosecutors say Silver earned a million dollars more through investments.
“This was corruption,” not politics as usual, Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Goldstein told jurors.
Silver did not testify and called no witnesses. Dr. Robert Taub told jurors he steered numerous patients with asbestos-related cancer to Silver’s law firm, enabling the legislator to pocket $3 million in referral fees. 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.
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.
Juror deliberations were eventful: Less than two hours after talks started last Tuesday, a juror tried to leave, accusing fellow jurors of claiming she failed to use common sense. Their discussions were briefly halted again Monday morning after another juror said he’d just learned his boss knows Silver. Both times, Judge Valerie Caproni advised jurors to resume work.
Meanwhile, Skelos and his son have been on trial in another Manhattan federal courtroom. Skelos is charged with badgering companies reliant upon his legislative clout to provide over $300,000 to his son.
Skelos and Silver were among a group dubbed the “three men in a room” in Albany, a nod to the longstanding practice of legislative leaders and the governor negotiating key bills behind closed doors. The day before Silver’s arrest, Cuomo referred to Skelos, Silver and himself as the “three amigos.”
In a measure of Silver’s clout, he helped persuade Cuomo to disband an anti-corruption commission investigating Silver’s financial dealings and those of his colleagues.
The Associated Press contributed to this story
Prelude to the bigger fish to fry perhaps?…..
Let’s hope so. We need a purge of Democrats, or else an Exorcism or their demonic and demagogic premise that everyone has to entertain their vices including abortion, marijuana, and homosexuality (did you know that certain feminists can determine whether a gent is homo or not? They’re called (hush, hush) INELIGIBLE SUITORS, punishable by character assassination, sabotage, and general jinxing. They’re undercover gay bashers and entertain the delusion that homos are homos because they’re insanely jealous of women.
By attacking Obamacare Mitch McConnell is showing his true color –white. He does not want to see Blacks and other minorities in hospitals he goes to be treated. McConnell should join Trott as neighbors. I have idea how he gets along with his Chinese wife when she hears her husband hates racial minorities. Mitch makes me sick.
Obamacare & mitch? I guess I missed that article here. You obviously must have medicaid & are doing very well, Thank you very much! As for Mitch, forget the fact that he is white that is of NO significance here (unless of course you are on board with “black lives matter”) BUT how about the FACT that he is just plain CROOKED as the man in this article. But lets not just stop at Mitch….we should be looking at white woman as well…Hillary! If this IS about color, whether or not, I so do hope it hits her!!
We need to get rid of our corrupt politicians. If they take the lobbyists’ money then that is bribing.
The EPA now wants more ethanol in gasoline even though the government study said that it is now more expensive and it is creating smog and bad for the environment. These politicians accepted the bribes of the Iwao’s lobbyists and blatantly passed this law, despite the public does not want it nor is there a reason other than making money plus subsidies for these corn growers.
What in the world are you talking about?
Masanja, if you haven’t figured out by now that Obamacare is one of the things that is ruining this country I have a bridge you might be interested in. It’s not the color of Obama’s skin that is the problem. Rather it is the blackness in his heart where there should be abiding pride and love for this country. Stop drinking the cool aid.
Hopefully the biggest amigo will be taken down.
That or they’re throwing us a bone, with the hopes it’ll keep us happy enough that the big fish can go about their business.
why is Clinton not going to Prison for twenty years with her Friend Silver ??? that is where she belongs that dishonest B….,
Face it registered Democrats are ALL guilty of attempting to monopolize the Justice system to fit and suit their self-indulgent, ingratiating, and “all-inclusive” vices. They believe (in their delusional minds) that GREED is a universal annealing dynamic and fool who believes otherwise. Insubordination (as in my case) to this party “line” or mandate ends in black-balling and black-listing (me). There is scientific evidence that this is true. Any Democrat can be accused of perjury because following the party “Line”: “Oh, HE made me do it” or “My word against yours” (in a battle of “nerves”) involving identity theft (use of aliases).
You gotta love that……I’m sick of all the crooks..We really should pull an Iceland and run them all out !
Is anyone surprised????
Was he part of the Clinton Crime Foundation as well?
Paraphrase and parody in the same comment ……All politics are local , all CORRUPTION is UNIVERSAL
Hopefully more corrupt politicians will be removed from power and sent to prison. These criminals get wealthy while treating the power of the people as something they can sell for their own personal benefit.
put Clinton ,Dirty Harry Reed and Pelosi in the same Cell ,we sell Tickets ,I will gladly spend a grant to visit them in Prison ,it would be well spend ,it would be standing room only
pay off the national debt with it.
Now we know why cuomo stopped the investigation in to corruption and crime.
I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW ANY PERSON COULD EVER VOTO FOR THE ‘FLIPPER’, THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE, MEN AND WOMAN, ALIKE, DO NOT KNOW RIGHT OR WRONG. THEY, FEEL THAT THE TAX PAYERS IN THE USA OWE THEM THE RIGHT TO TAKE ALL THE MONEY, WHAT EVER WAY THEY FEEL LIKE DOING AND WE ARE TO LIKE IT… IT IS TIME THAT THE ‘FLIPPER’ AND HER FRIENDS ALL GO TO THE CROWBAR HOTEL .. FOR A LONG TIME LAW BRAKERS NEED TO BE SHOWN, THAT THERE IS A RIGHT WAY AND A WRONG WAY TO RUN A COUNTRY… WE SURE HAVE SEEN ,IN THE PAST 20 YEARS WHAT IS NOT RIGHT….. I HOPE AND PRAY,, THAT 2016 WILL RID AMERICA OF THE SICK, PERSONS THAT HAVE DONE SO MUCH EVIL TO THIS GREAT LAND….AND TO THE PEOPLE THAT STILL BELIEVE IN JUSTIED FOR ALL AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS FOR A LL VOTER…..
Maybe he and Hillary can share a cell together ! They both are Criminals !
Sheldon Silver and Hillary should share a cell together. I’m sure they have a lot of stories to tell each other.