Posted on 01/28/2015 3:35:19 AM PST by Din Maker
New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, one of the most powerful Democrats in Empire State politics over the past two decades, will leave his post next week as he fights federal corruption charges.
The 70-year-old was taken into custody last Thursday on federal charges he took nearly $4 million in payoffs and kickbacks, but he insists he is innocent. Silver faces five counts, including conspiracy and bribery, and is accused of using his position to obtain millions of dollars in kickbacks masked as legitimate income from two law firms.
Members of the Assembly said Silver's criminal charges had become a distraction and a problem for entire chamber.
Silver had one vocal ally remaining. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, a fellow Democrat, has called Silver "a man of integrity" and said Tuesday that he shouldn't resign. He added that people have to respect the Assembly's decision, but "it's crucially important" that there is leadership that's fair to the city, which he claimed often doesn't get its fair share from the state government.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Yes, Obama surely seems to hate the nation of Israel.
As for Jews in general, he detests politically conservative and Republican Jews, who tend to be the most pro-Israel. But he seems friendly to leftist Jews - as long as they remain servile to his causes - and still has a good number of them in high positions in his administration.
I'm not all that aware of how close Silver is to Israel or specifically Netanyahu, but that could be one possible reason why Silver is being targeted.
Well, apparently Silver doesn't want it anymore, because he's resigning.
Of course, there's one obvious reason why Rangel was never prosecuted for tax evasion - a reason that doesn't apply to Silver.
RE: Of course, there’s one obvious reason why Rangel was never prosecuted for tax evasion - a reason that doesn’t apply to Silver.
Let me guess, it is the same reason Al Sharpton is never prosecuted for tax evasion?
You got it! But it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out.
What dirt does Silver have on the Cuomo family, DeBlasio the red, and most of the Democrats in NY politics?
They are afraid that he will spill the beans, the pot and the truth which is why I don’t think he’ll live to go to trial. Heart attacks happen, you know, esp. to witnesses in NY corruption trials.
In 2003, Silver’s chief counsel, Michael Boxley, was charged with rape and marched out of Assembly offices in handcuffs. Boxley was later convicted. More below.
Although then-DA Paul Clyne was a fellow Democrat, Silver was furious at being embarrassed. “He was fuming,” one Albany vet says, “and swore he would get a DA in there that he could control and who would never embarrass him.”
Silver found his candidate for the 2004 election, little-known latino lawyer, David Soares (is he here legally?); Silver engineered the support of uber-liberal Working Families Party, a union front group which went to work for Soares.
Against heavy odds, Soares triumphed in the primary and general election. Soares remains the Albany DA, yet never finds anything amiss in the Legislature. Like Sgt. Schultz in “Hogan’s Heroes,” Soares knows nothing.
Sadly, the cabal of federal prosecutors in the Northern District, which covers the capital, avoids political cases like the plague, as do the five DAs in the city.
Were it not for Preet Bharara, the Manhattan federal prosecutor, Silver could have kept his alleged scams going for another 20 years.
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NOTE WRT BOXLEY:
FBI TIPS PAGE--YOU MAY REMAIN ANONYMOUS ---https://tips.fbi.gov
BACKSTORY In 2014, the Brown & Weinraub lobbying firm, listed ex-Silver aide---sexual predator Michael Boxley---as a lobbyist in Albany.
In June 2003, Albany police removed Boxley, then Silver’s chief legal counsel, from the Capitol in cuffs after a female legislative staffer accused him of rape.
Boxley quit the Silver job after pleading guilty to misdemeanor sexual misconduct.
The plea required him to register as a sex offender and serve six years’ probation. His law license was suspended. In accepting the deal, he admitted having sex with a 22-year-old legislative staffer without her consent.
The FBI needs to scrutinize Silver's deals w/ the Brown & Weinraub lobbying firm......Boxley's employer.
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