New York – Deliberations will resume Monday at the federal corruption trial of former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver after jurors failed to reach a verdict by noon Wednesday.
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“Enjoy the weekend,” the smiling Silver told several courtroom artists and journalists as he left the Manhattan federal courtroom.
Jurors deliberated about two hours before adjourning for the long holiday weekend.
The break came a day after deliberations began in the trial of the 71-year-old once-powerful Democrat on charges that he traded his influence to earn $5 million through kickbacks over more than a decade. Silver, who did not testify, insisted through lawyers that the government was trying to criminalize longstanding practices of Albany legislators.
Shortly after deliberations started Tuesday, a juror claimed in a note that she was being bullied by other jurors and asked to be relieved from the panel. At the end of the day, she asked in another note to meet with U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni.
Caproni told jurors Wednesday that it was inappropriate for her to meet with one of them.
“The secrecy of jury deliberations is a cornerstone of our jury system,” Caproni said.
She also urged them to be respectful of one another’s viewpoints.
“Each juror is entitled to his or her opinion and no juror should give up a point of view that the juror conscientiously believes based on the evidence, the facts and the law simply because the juror is outnumbered,” Caproni warned.
To reach a verdict, jurors must sift through evidence provided by 25 witnesses and scores of documents. Prosecutors tried to show that millions of dollars Silver received in legal fees and other payments were actually bribes and kickbacks for favors he did for a cancer researcher and real estate developers.
The defense countered that Silver, a lawyer, did not commit a crime and was entitled to earn income outside of his legislative duties.
Silver resigned his leadership post after his January arrest but held onto his Assembly seat. If convicted, he could face decades in prison.
too bad this crook has another (hopefully last) Thanksgiving in freedom, cant wait for all the “askanim” to say how this toeiva loving, yeshiva tuition hating politician did for the “community”, just like best buddy Rapfogel.
Do they serve Kosher brisket in the jail he’s going to? He certainly won’t need his 2 thousand dollar suits anymore.
Goniff alert! Unless you paid to play, this guy was not on your side. But fear not, he won’t spend one night in jail…
Not guilty till proven guilty…
Shelly fell victim to overzealous prosecutors, trying to make a statement by characterizing his conduct, as illegal, which it is absolutely not.
Every single professional is entitled to outside income, that includes member of the law, including judges. I happen to know one myself who moonlights as a legal adviser. Upon signing up for public service, one does not become a salve to society restricting any additional sources of revenue. And we all know how well our lawmakers are paid. Bobkes. The question in this case is, did any of Shelly’s ‘outside income’ (which btw was fully declared and he paid taxes on, otherwise they would have slapped him with a multitude of tax evasion charges which are so much easier to prove) affect his behavior and conduct as a lawmaker, and if so, was that conduct illegal. The verdict is going to be NO. Shelly is gonna walk away a free man, which he rightfully is. Sorry to all you haters, but a successful man with a brilliant mind and an iron fist does not render him a criminal.
This is called ענוי הדין.
This jurror obvioulsy is the one loner who either believes not guilty or undecided. If she holds out I believe it will be a hung jury
Read my lips ! Shelly, You’re gonna be a free man very shortly! Happy Thanksgiving!