Posted on 11/30/2015 1:37:07 PM PST by SeekAndFind
Sheldon Silver has gone from one of Albany's famed "three men in a room" to one of 198,000 people in federal lockup.
A jury found the 71-year-old former Assembly Speaker guilty on all seven corruption charges Tuesday, sending a powerful message to politicians in New York's capital.
Judge Valerie Caproni will set the date of his surrender. He faces a maximum of 130 years behind bars, though he is expected to face a sentence more in the range of 20 years.
The verdict is a major victory for Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, who slammed Albany as "a cauldron of corruption" when he announced charges against the Lower East Side democrat in January.
"Today, Sheldon Silver got justice, and at long last, so did the people of New York," the U.S. Attorney's office said in a statement after the verdict was revealed.
Over three weeks the government presented ample evidence of Silver's efforts to conceal twin corruption schemes that earned him $4 million.
Silver, the former state Assembly Speaker, was accused of two separate schemes. In the first, prosecutors said he secretly directed $500,000 in state money to Columbia University Dr. Robert Taub's mesothelioma research. The decorated doctor testified that he gave Silver leads on his patients who were suffering from the deadly effects of asbestos exposure. The Lower East Side democrat then directed those patients to the firm Weitz & Luxenberg, which paid Silver $3 million in referral fees.
(Excerpt) Read more at nydailynews.com ...
Good. Now who in NY cesspool is next?
wonder which party he belonged to ... or perhaps he was an independent
RE: Good. Now who in NY cesspool is next?
The Republican ex-senate majority leader, Dean Skelos. He has been charged with an influence peddling scheme which he concocted with his son, Adam.
Skelos was arrested on federal corruption charges on May 4, 2015, including “conspiracy, extortion, and solicitation of bribes” according to the New York Times.
The charges deal with the awarding of a $12 million contract to a company that hired his son. Investigators allegedly caught him on wiretaps boasting of his power. His son, Adam Skelos, was also charged in the case.
Skelos vacated his post as Senate Majority Leader on May 11, 2015, a week after being charged.
RE: wonder which party he belonged to ... or perhaps he was an independent
He’s a life long Democrat. But that does not mean Republicans cannot be corrupt. See Post #4 above.
Two down, and the last one is Princess Andrew.
WOW I didn’t think New York had it in them....WTG people...he was the biggest slime ball ever!!!
Prince Andrew of Albany must be puking on his shoes.Shelly will give up EVERYBODY and so will Skelos the Republican who will be convicted later this week. This is a great day for New York and America’s sense of justice!
I still don’t understand the Obama Justice Department going after a Democrat icon politician in NYS, but they did?????
Retired to Club Fed. General Pop. at Attica would have been more fitting.
It is to get rid of the corrupt SOB, so they can install their own corrupt SOB to get the money involved.
Start with Skelos and his despicable son. then Cuomo and then the rest of the legislature and executive. The state should be put into receivership, have new elections called and deny any current state or municipal elected or appointed official the right to run. The state’s voters should be presented a constitutional amendment adjusting the legislative term limits for assembly and senate to no more than eight years service total, not consecutive. Pay should be raised including the cost of housing in Albany and no outside income of any kind to be allowed. No relatives by blood or marriage of any member of the legislature or elected executive office holders may be employed by any department of state or local government, unless that employment predates election. If so then the employee may not receive any job promotion other than by competitive civil service exam as long as his relative holds office. No relative of any elected govt ofiicial may do business with the state govt as long as the official remains in office.
The tip of the iceberg.
Or Rikers.
RE: I still don’t understand the Obama Justice Department going after a Democrat icon politician in NYS, but they did?????
The prosecutor is the Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, does he report to Loretta Lynch? I think he answers only to the State of New York.
Are so many NYers on the take that these criminals keep getting reelected or is it that NYers are generally sheep who are used to getting sheared and don’t mind mind being governed by crooks? Or is it a combination of these two factors?
Seems like the whole northeast has this same mentality, as well.
Yes. He works for the U.S. Justice Dept. That’s not a state position.
I think as US Attorney he works for the DOJ and therefore Loretta Lynch -- but mainly he works for Preet Bharara.
I've heard that he doesn't like Cuomo, having been treated badly in what he feels is a racist manner when they worked together. So I don't think he would feel inhibited going after him. Here's hoping that Sheldon Silver delivers them all on a silver platter!
The Democrat Assembly Speaker has been convicted of corruption, the Republican Senate Majority Leader will soon be convicted on very strong evidence.
That leaves Democrat Governor Andrew Cuomo in a strong position.
He had to deal with Silver and de Blasio before in trying to run the NYS Democrats.
He now has a chance to control the Senate, and be a kingmaker in the Assembly.
All he needs to do is find a candidate to unseat de Blasio in the NYC mayoral primary, and he controls the state executive and legislature.
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