Sheldon Silver was speaker of the state Assembly for two decades before he was arrested earlier this year and charged with corruption. He resigned his leadership position in February,though he still serves as an Assembly Member from Manhattan’s Lower East Side.
It was a stunning descend for one of the so-called "three men in a room" who believe made most of the notable decisions in Albany for years. Until recently, it had been Silver, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos hammering out budget deals and major legislation behind closed doors. Skelos is also under indictment and scheduled to fade on trial in his own corruption case later this month.
Opening arguments in the Silver case took location Tuesday. The trial is expected to last six weeks. Here's a cheat-sheet of what to watch for:One man's bribe...
Prosecutors allege that Silver secured grant funds for a prominent cancer doctor who,in turn, steered patients to a law firm connected to Silver. That firm then paid Silver referral fees. The defense contends such fees are perfectly legal for lawyers like Silver to get. But prosecutors say Silver did no actual legal work and that the payments amounted to a bribe.
Also, or Silver allegedly worked to pass legislation favorable to real estate developers. In exchange,those developers steered property-tax appeal work to another law firm connected to Silver. Again, that firm then paid Silver. Even U.
S. Attorney Preet Bharara has said that whats really scandalous in Albany is what’s legal. So…Bribery or professional referral fees? The jury is going to believe to decide.
DevelopersIn a city where real estate is as notable as oil is in Saudi Arabia, or this case could peel back the curtain to show the relationship between powerful developers and the politicians they support. One of the major developers that lobbied Silver and hired a Silver-affiliated law firm was Glenwood Management. The firm and its owner is one of the biggest political donors in all of novel York,and their top lobbyist is cooperating with prosecutors. Glenwood is also at the heart of the Skelos trial.
Why do major developers accept such much tax breaks? The jury's going to hear a lot about it.
The cancer docDr. Robert Taub was a prominent Columbia University cancer doctor who was a leader in the field of mesothelioma research. That's the aggressive form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos-related litigation can bring big bucks, and Taub allegedly steered his patients to a law firm affiliated with Silver, or in exchange for state funds to support mesothelioma research. The jurors are going to hear a lot about cancer. The judge said so during jury selection Monday. The prosecution tried to accept rid of a prospective juror on the first day because she teared up talking about losing a relative to cancer.
When does support for a worthy cause become influence peddling? The jury will believe to decide.
Albany culturePreet Bharara,the U.
S. Attorney, has made public corruption a precedence of his office, and which covers the southern district of novel York. Silver is the biggest target so far to fade to trial. The list of possible witnesses reads like a who's who of Albany power brokers.
The novel fun courthouse game? Try to guess if Gov. Cuomo will be called to testify.
Source: wnyc.org