Silver Found Guilty On All Counts In Federal Corruption Trial

Sheldon Silver – the former speaker of the New York State Assembly and a former ex-officio member of Cornell’s Board of Trustees – was convicted on federal corruption charges Monday.

And it offers one of the most significant victories in the tenure of Manhattan U.S Attorney Preet Bharara, who has made no secret of his intention to pursue the “caldron of corruption” in Albany, and who had been accused by some of prosecutorial overreach.

The prosecutor also took aim at the defense’s accusation that overzealous prosecutors were trying to criminalize behavior that’s politics as usual in the Assembly.

After Silver’s arrest, the Legislature passed modest changes, including a requirement that lawmakers disclose more about their private income. Other schemes involved kickbacks from a legal firm specializing in tax law, and favors to the real estate industry in the form of favorable tax laws. The majority of legislators work full-time for the people; they should move quickly to bring New York’s ethics laws up to the standards expected by the public.

Deliberations in the corruption trial of New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver were halted briefly Monday when a juror asked to quit because his boss knows Silver, the second time in a week a juror has sought to leave the panel.

The trial was expected to last up to six weeks but instead wrapped up in just over three weeks, heading to the jury early last week before a break for a long Thanksgiving weekend. “We need to enact serious reforms that will open up the legislative process and limit the amount of power one person can accumulate”, Walter said in a written statement.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Goldstein told jurors they had to convict Silver if they found money played a role in his decisions.

Because of this verdict, Silver, who resigned in January after his arrest, will be forced to vacate the Lower East Side Assembly seat he won almost 40 years ago.

He says his cab company is owned by a wealthy man who hangs out with Sheldon Silver at his synagogue. Prosecutors say Silver earned a million dollars more through investments. Senator Dean Skelos and his son Adam face numerous counts of corruption.

“I’m disappointed right now”, he said before leaving in a black vehicle. In return, he gave Taub $500,000 in taxpayer funds for research projects.

In October, Silver said that he would be “vindicated…in this trial”.