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  1. #1
    Senior Member JohnDoe2's Avatar
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    Former New York Assembly speaker found guilty in corruption trial

    Former New York Assembly speaker found guilty in corruption trial


    Former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver arrives to the courthouse in New York, Monday, Nov. 30, 2015. Silver, a Manhattan Democrat who led the Assembly for 20 years, is accused of taking more than $4 million in bribes and ... more >

    By Larry Neumeister - Associated Press - Monday, November 30, 2015

    NEW YORK — Former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, once one of New York’s most powerful politicians, was convicted Monday of charges that he traded favors to earn $5 million illegally and then lied about it.


    The Manhattan federal court jury returned the verdict after a three-week trial in which prosecutors claimed that the 71-year-old Democrat repeatedly promised the favors so he could enrich himself. The defense countered that the government was trying to criminalize the longtime routines of politics in Albany.


    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 state government, an effort that has led to the ongoing corruption trial of New York’s state Senate leader, Republican Dean Skelos. After Silver’s arrest in January, Mr. Bharara portrayed the case as a product of Albany’s “cauldron of corruption.”


    Mr. Bharara said that with the 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.

    With the conviction, Silver automatically loses his Assembly seat. He had kept it while fighting the charges, although he was stripped of his leadership role after his arrest. He had been speaker since 1994.


    Deliberations began and ended with fireworks. Less than two hours after talks started last Tuesday, a juror tried to beg off the panel, accusing her fellow jurors of claiming she failed to use common sense. But with instructions from Judge Valerie Caproni to respectfully exchange views, jurors settled down and resumed work.


    Their discussions were briefly halted again Monday morning, when another juror asked to quit because he’d just learned his boss knows Silver. Judge Caproni told the juror, a taxi driver, to put the relationship out of his mind and return to deliberations.


    The government had argued that the trial testimony of 25 witnesses and lots of documents 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.


    Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Goldstein told jurors to reject the defense contention that Silver was just practicing politics as usual.


    “This was bribery. This was extortion. This was corruption,” Mr. Goldstein said.


    Mr. Molo countered that Silver committed no crime.


    “There was no quid quo pro. He did not sell his office,” Mr. Molo said.


    Silver did not testify. Dr. Robert Taub told jurors he steered numerous patients with cancer caused by asbestos 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 Mr. Taub’s research projects and helped his son and daughter get a job and an internship.


    http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...ty-corruption/
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  2. #2
    Super Moderator Newmexican's Avatar
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    New York Democrat Sheldon Silver Found Guilty on Federal Charges of Fraud, Extortion

    Hillary Clinton praised Silver as 'stalwart voice on the needs for New Yorkers'


    Hillary Clinton with Sheldon Silver / AP
    BY: Brent Scher
    November 30, 2015 4:50 pm


    Democrat Sheldon Silver, the former speaker of the New York State Assembly, was found guilty on counts of fraud, extortion, and money laundering in a federal court on Monday, according to the New York Times.

    Silver had become one of the most powerful politicians in the state but it all unraveled after he was arrested in January and a web of corruption that brought in nearly $4 million in illegal payments to Silver was laid out by federal prosecutors.

    Federal prosecutor Howard Master said in court that Silver used his office to “dispense benefits to people who were paying him in quid pro quo relationship” and that his model of government “was by Sheldon Silver for Sheldon Silver.”

    The arrest stemmed from an investigation carried out by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, who said that the Silver was proof that the “show-me-the-money culture of Albany has been perpetuated and promoted at the very top of the political food chain.”

    Silver was speaker for two decades, and became a force to be reckoned with in state politics. He played a key role in gathering support for Hillary Clinton’s 2000 Senate campaign, which had to overcome the fact that Clinton had very limited ties to the state.

    Clinton apparently never noticed that Silver’s primary interest as speaker was to line his own pockets. In 2008, Clinton described Silver as a “stalwart voice on the needs for New Yorkers.”



    Sheldon Silver speaks at Citizenship Now!



    http://www.breitbart.com/big-governm...rian-refugees/

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    Senior Member JohnDoe2's Avatar
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    NO AMNESTY

    Don't reward the criminal actions of millions of illegal aliens by giving them citizenship.


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    Senior Member lorrie's Avatar
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    We need the State of New York to probe into the corruption of Bill, Hillary, Chelsea Clinton and their bogus foundations.

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