Corruption, an issue which has plagued New York state politics since the early 1900s, has reared its ugly head again, because for the second time in two years, a major influential politician has been convicted of bribery and extortion charges. Sheldon Silver once a major political figure in the state’s senate, holding the title of Assembly Speaker for 21 years before his downfall over the previous year and a half, was convicted on Tuesday May 3rd on numerous charges similar to those of Dean Skelos who was convicted in 2015.
“Today’s stiff sentence is a just and fitting end to Sheldon’s Silver’s long career of corruption”, U.S Attorney Preet Bharara said after the trial. Mr. Bharara was also involved in the conviction of Dean Skelos and has made cleaning up Albany one of his main priorities.
Some of the charges that were levied against Mr. Silver include, wire fraud, extortion and using his influence to get business dealings done in Manhattan, which he personally benefited from. Following the trial, the Manhattan judge presiding over the trial called Silver “a scheming corrupt politician”.
The successful conviction of Mr. Silver follows the conviction of Dean Skelos in December 2015 who was once the New York State senate leader, and held enormous influence within the state.
Mr. Skelos and his son Adam, were convicted on numerous charges, including bribery (eight counts), extortion and conspiracy. Mr. Skelos also used his influence as a top politician to get his son a high paying no show job with a Manhattan medical malpractice agency.
“Did a lobbyist have preferred access because she was a better lobbyist than her competitors or was it payback for a personal relationship”? The judge said referring to an alleged extra material affair, Mr. Silver allegedly had with a lobbyist.
The bribery charges include, making millions in “ill-gotten gains” from a Manhattan law firm along with hundreds of thousands from a Columbia University doctor who he helped and also another $700,000 from a real estate developer. All business were located in Manhattan.
“I believe in the justice system in this nation, and we will pursue whatever remedies the system makes available” Mr. Silver said outside the court.
The sentence was 12 years for corruption and an additional 10 years for money laundering, however he will only serve the 12 years concurrently. His sentencing date is scheduled for July 1st. “I hope that the sentence I’m going to impose on you will make the next politician hesitate just long enough before taking a bribe or a kickback for his better angels to take over” Judge Caproni said.
32 politicians in New York have been convicted of wrongdoing in the last 12 years, making it one of the most corrupt states in the United States.
In summary it is a positive thing what Mr. Bharara is doing by convicting politicians in Albany and throughout the state of using their influence for their personal benefit for it is a stain which the one of the most famous states in not only the country but the world could be identified as the “Empire state of Corruption” because of the history of the politicians within the state.
For the future, President Theodore Roosevelt said it best about the politicians within the Empire state by saying in the early 1900s, “When they call the roll in the Senate, the Senators do not know whether to answer present or not guilty”.
Links to sources:
- New York Post, Silver Convicted Link: https://nypost.com/2016/05/03/sheldon-silver-gets-12-years-in-prison-for-corruption/
- Dean Skelos Convicted Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/26/nyregion/dean-skelos-and-his-son-convicted-on-corruption-charges-seek-new-trial.html?_r=0
- New York State Corrupt Politician List: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/07/23/nyregion/23moreland-commission-and-new-york-political-scandals.html
- Theodore Roosevelt Quote: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/government-corruption
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