Monday, November 30, 2015

Report: Sheldon Silver found guilty in corruption trial


In case you missed the news this afternoon... let's go to the Times:

Sheldon Silver, an assemblyman who rose from the Lower East Side of Manhattan to become one of New York State’s most powerful politicians, was found guilty on Monday in a federal corruption trial, ending a case that was the capstone of the government’s efforts to expose the seamy culture of influence peddling in Albany.

The 71-year-old Silver faced seven counts of honest services fraud, extortion and money laundering ... and he was convicted on all counts. He now faces up to 130 years in prison.

To Twitter for some reaction...

10 comments:

Anonymous said...
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Scuba Diva said...

Sadly, Shelly is the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

Brian said...

He deserved it. The fact he would not take the stand to defend himself shows he knew he was guilty. (Please no reies by Constitutional lawyers) Perhaps he did not want to risk revealing any further undiscovered wrongdoing. I am sure he rationalized his huge legal fee windfall without actually doing any legal work as the reward for being a powerful legislator who wrangled all the power in a 150 person legislative body. And he rationalized that legal fees were legal in NY. But really? Really Sheldon?! Millions for doing no actual legal work?

chris flash said...

Just about ALL of the political whores and poverty pimps who betrayed the LES from the 80s through the present have either died or been convicted on charges of corruption. $helly $ilver was among the worst of them and now he may as well BURN his ill-gotten gains, as they will do him no good now.

So, what was it all for? Was it the money when he was already making PLENTY? Or was it simply greed and the need to feel powerful?? A major pathology was at work in the case of $ilver, who acted as a "representative" of common hard-working Lower East Siders as he stabbed and fucked them repeatedly from behind. Even now, he's got a core of deluded supporters who just cannot come to grips with how BADLY they (and we) were FUCKED by $helly $ilver.

This parasite will join all of the others on the shit-heap of history, but our communities may never recover from the damage $ilver and his ilk have done to us....

Anonymous said...

Who will run for his assembly seat? Will someone be appointed by the party bosses?

Steve Kennedy said...

These charges have been common knowledge for years. Voters returned this crook to his post, election after election. I'm not optimistic that anything will change, or, am I convinced that this crook will ever spend a day in jail. You can bet he'll remain free while his appeals wind their way through the courts. On the brighter side—I'm sure the shredders were working overtime in the govenor's office yesterday afternoon. We can only hope the snake's head is severed from it's body.

nygrump said...

DOn't worry, new taxes to cross the East River bridges comin gsoon!

DrBOP said...

= EVEN MORE Active Rat Signs

Anonymous said...

Steve Kennedy is right. Everyone knew he was as crooked and corrupt as the day is long, but voters just kept electing him anyway. There hasn't been a man like Shelly Silver since Boss Tweed. It is a great regret that he was able to get away with it for so long and he spent so many years living like a crime boss when he should have been in prison long ago.

Anonymous said...

Its just the changing of the guard!!! Its Shellys time to go! Next!!!

Also this prosecutor Preet Bharara is a very ambitious guy! he is making a =name for himself!

remember this guy !