New York – Former state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver was convicted Monday in a $5 million corruption case that took down one of New York’s most powerful politicians and stunned a capital that had become accustomed to scandal.
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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.
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 single-handedly decide the fate of legislation.
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.
Bharara said that with Monday’s verdict, “Sheldon Silver got justice, and at long last, so did the people of New York.”
Silver’s lawyer, Steven Molo, said his client was disappointed and intended to appeal.
Silver himself showed no emotion as he was declared guilty of all counts against him: honest-services fraud, extortion and money laundering. He sat quietly afterward, with his hands folded in his lap. He faces the possibility of decades in prison. No sentencing date was set, and Silver remains free on bail.
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.
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 bribery. This was extortion. This was corruption,” not politics as usual, Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Goldstein told jurors.
Molo countered that Silver committed no crime: “There was no quid quo pro. He did not sell his office.”
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, Gov. Andrew Cuomo referred to Skelos, Silver and himself as the “three amigos.”
In a measure of Silver’s clout, he helped persuade Cuomo to disband a state anti-corruption commission that was investigating Silver’s financial dealings and those of his colleagues.
In just the past five years, one Albany lawmaker was convicted of taking bribes from a carnival promoter. A second entered into a sham marriage in order to become a citizen. A third was accused of harassing female staffers and forcing one to touch cancerous tumors on his neck and armpit.
I guess most of the VIN posters who claimed it would be a hung jury were wrong. Justice was served. No more two thousand dollar suits for Shelly. Orange is the new black.
I was wrong..i predicted hung jury
I don’t know shelly silver at all. What I DO know is, that the FBI is on a mission to destroy anyone in power or individuals who are too successful in business.
Just look around and look how many indictments they have handed out in the last decade against anyone in government. It’s a pure witch hunt with an underlying and unyielding crave for power.
Very sad for Klal Yisroel
at long last the toieva loving, tuition parents hating walking hillul Has-em is gone, lets see him go to Sing Sing and sing a different tune.
FOUND GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS! WOW!
The conviction will be overturned upon appeal.
If he was innocent of the charges, why didn’t his lawyer call him to the stand to tell his version of what happened while under oath? Silence is not always golden.
Hopefully he will prevail on appeal. Shelly Silver is a fine Shomer Shabbos Yid who has helped thousands of people during his term in office.
Oy im crying bitter tears! Im crying for my fellow brother who is going through so much tzoros , I’m crying for my fellow yidden who shamelessly and blatantly spew terrible loshon hora against their fellow yid. All you ” self righteous ” people talk about halacha and following the law, yet rechilus , motzi shem ra, dan lekaf zchus, bingol oyvecha al tismach, just doesnt apply to you. I for one feel bad for his predicament and I hope only the best for him.
To #15 - What difference does it make that he is Shomer Shabbos? There are plenty of Shomer Shabbos Yidden in prison right now, both at the state and federal levels. As the saying goes “If you do the crime, you do the time”.
If I understand you correctly you are saying that if one is “a fine Shomer Shabbos Yid who has helped thousands of people” then it is OK to be corrupt.
His lawyer was smart enough to not allow Shelly to testify. If he had, he would have had to lie hundreds of times. This fine Shomer Shabbos man will have peace now in a nice cell with great Jewish books to read. It will be good for him away from his Upper West Side “friends.” Be happy for Shelly.