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| New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver arrested on federal corruption charges | |
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| Federal agents on Thursday arrested powerful New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D) on federal corruption charges, stemming from payments he received from two New York City law firms. | |
| Jennifer Queliz, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney’s office in the Southern District of New York, confirmed Silver was in custody Thursday morning. U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara will hold a press conference Thursday afternoon to announce the charges. | |
| Silver is charged with five counts of fraud and conspiracy, according to court documents filed Wednesday. Prosecutors allege he used his position to take more than $6 million in bribes and kickbacks, which he masked as legitimate income earned as a lawyer over 15 years. | Silver is charged with five counts of fraud and conspiracy, according to court documents filed Wednesday. Prosecutors allege he used his position to take more than $6 million in bribes and kickbacks, which he masked as legitimate income earned as a lawyer over 15 years. |
| The documents allege Silver received $1.4 million in salary from the law firm of Weitz & Luxenberg based on his official position as assembly speaker, rather than for work he performed, and $3.9 million in attorney referral fees. Prosecutors say Silver steered $500,000 in state funds to an unnamed doctor for research; the doctor in turn steered asbestos cases to the firm. | |
| A spokesman for the firm, Dave Kufeld, wasn’t immediately available for comment. | A spokesman for the firm, Dave Kufeld, wasn’t immediately available for comment. |
| The New York Times, which first reported the impending arrest on Wednesday evening, said Silver turned himself in to FBI agents in Lower Manhattan. | The New York Times, which first reported the impending arrest on Wednesday evening, said Silver turned himself in to FBI agents in Lower Manhattan. |
| “I hope I’ll be vindicated,” Silver said Thursday as he arrived at FBI offices, according to the Times. | “I hope I’ll be vindicated,” Silver said Thursday as he arrived at FBI offices, according to the Times. |
| Silver, a Manhattan Democrat who has served as speaker of the state assembly since 1994, has been under federal investigation over payments he received from a small law firm, Goldberg & Iryami, that specializes in New York City real estate taxes. Investigators said Silver failed to disclose the payments on annual financial disclosure filings. | Silver, a Manhattan Democrat who has served as speaker of the state assembly since 1994, has been under federal investigation over payments he received from a small law firm, Goldberg & Iryami, that specializes in New York City real estate taxes. Investigators said Silver failed to disclose the payments on annual financial disclosure filings. |
| Silver also faces charges in connection with that case, although the firm isn’t named in charging documents. It is referred to as a “Real Estate Law Firm.” | |
| The spokeswoman in Bharara’s office said the criminal complaint laying out the charges would be released in a few hours. | The spokeswoman in Bharara’s office said the criminal complaint laying out the charges would be released in a few hours. |
| The Times reported the investigation grew out of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s (D) decision to shut down an anti-corruption commission, known as the Moreland Commission, last March. | |
| As assembly speaker, Silver is one of the three most powerful people in Albany. He was easily re-elected speaker by his colleagues earlier this month even after news of the FBI investigation broke. | |
| New York state law requires anyone convicted of a felony to resign office. | New York state law requires anyone convicted of a felony to resign office. |