Silver guilty on all counts

It really shouldn’t have come as all that much of a shock, but the NY political world seemed to be turned on its ear yesterday when former assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver was brought in guilty by a jury of his peers on each and every count in his corruption trial.

The guilty verdict is a stunning end to the career of one of the most powerful people in NY government.

Former speaker of the New York State Assembly Sheldon Silver – who was also a Cornell trustee – leaves federal court Monday. Their discussions were briefly halted again Monday morning after another juror said he’d just learned his boss knows Silver.

Silver, who gave up his speaker position but retained his assembly seat after his January arrest, has been on trial simultaneously with state Sen. With the allegations proven, it is time for the Legislature to take seriously the need to reform.

Silver had previously said that he would be vindicated. The defense countered that the government was trying to criminalize the longtime routines of politics in Albany.

Most likely, Silver’s conviction will have no bearing on Skelos’ trial, but it does signal a clear victory for Bharara, whom many observers believe staked his reputation on his crusade against Albany’s culture of corruption.

“I was surprised by the verdict, but I have faith in the judicial system”, he said. Prosecutors say Silver earned a million dollars more through investments.

The Times Union reports that Silver’s name has already been removed from the door of his office at the Capitol.

“Absolute power leads to corruption; no one should ever be able to amass the power that Silver wielded these last 20 years”.

In 2008, Clinton at the Democratic National Convention New York Delegation Breakfast praised Silver during his introduction for being a “stalwart voice on behalf of the needs of New Yorkers”. Five months later, Skelos and his son Adam were both arrested for allegedly manipulating legislation to pad his son’s pockets.

Glenwood and the campaign finance loophole have played a prominent role in the Skelos trial, too, where witnesses have testified about the importance of the loophole to the real estate industry. Today’s ruling restores my confidence that the integrity of the New York State Assembly, which has been severely tarnished for decades under the leadership of Silver, is finally being repaired.