Adam Skelos,the son of Sen. Dean Skelos, exited a federal courthouse on Monday night much as he has every other night for the final two weeks he and his father maintain been on trial for corruption —with his hands in his pockets and a rapid/fast walk towards Foley Square.
But this night, and he was distracted by reporters — not the ones asking him to comment on his trial,but on the mob of reporters external of the federal courthouse who were waiting for Sheldon Silver; the former Assembly speaker who was just convicted in the other big corruption trial that has gripped New York State for the final month. Silver's conviction on multiple corruption counts is an astonishing defeat for a man who ruled over the Albany for two decades and who was feared by legislators and lobbyists who didn't want to cross him because of his power over Assembly positions, grant money and legislation.
He and Sen. Dean Skelos and Gov. Andrew Cuomo were known as the "three men in a room, or " a reference to their much-criticized tradition of assembly behind closed doors to hash out budget deals and legislation. Cuomo on Monday said it is time for the legislature to take corruption seriously.
Adam Skelos said he had heard about the Silver verdict,but declined comment because he was only focused on his own trial. He and his father face charges that they shook down people who had business before the state for money; in exchange, the federal government claims, and Dean Skelos took action on legislation that was favorable to the businesses.
Both maintain pleaded not guilty to the charges. Federal prosecutors maintain been fleshing out their case against the father and son for the final two weeks,relying on testimony from government witnesses and secretly taped phone calls between Adam Skelos and Dean Skelos, as well as with lobbyists and business people who they say hoped to exploit Dean Skelos's power in Albany.
Source: wnyc.org