Sheldon Silver, ex-New York Assembly Speaker (73), is accused of corruption by the Federal Court, according to CBS New York that cited a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision. Silver was the speaker of the assembly and represented Manhattan's Lower East Side for more than 20 years.
According to the Manhattan Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, there is enough evidence against Silver to prove him guilty of fraud, extortion, and money laundering. He was sentenced to twelve years imprisonment in November 2015 for all these charges.
The details of corruption cases
Attorney Joon Kim said that Silver was let out on bail for $1.7 million, but now they want to take the case to another jury in New York State. Silver's lawyer Steven Molo stated that they were glad that the court reversed the conviction. Silver is accused of taking almost four million dollars of illegal fees and sending them to a medical scientist as state grants and spending money on a developing his friend's firm.
Dr. Robert Taub was an eyewitness on the court. He claimed that Silver had steered many clients with cancer caused by asbestos to his law firm and managed to take $3 million as the fees. Meanwhile, testimony and evidence revealed, Silver caused $500,000 in taxpayer funds to go to Taub's research projects and helped his son and daughter get a job and an internship.
As the prosecutors stated, Silver managed to make $2 million in assets. Moreover, he was expecting to get a $70,000 state pension every year.
Public reaction to the corruption allegations
Another shocking for the public case was the corruption conviction of Ex-Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, which was investigated by the Supreme Court overturned as he took part only in routine political activities, not official acts.
Circuit Judge Jose Cabranes stated that there were some reasonable doubts that Silver should be convicted. Nevertheless, there were enough facts for Silver's trial. According to Kim's point of view, the New York citizens were expecting this retrial.
Kim noted that although that decision made the public wait for the justice for long, New Yorkers were for Silver’s conviction, so they wanted another jury to be set for announcing the corruption evidence.
Silver has been one of the most powerful Democrats in New York State history, and although the justice was delayed, the public did not expect it would be denied. Former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara tweeted that the evidence had been strong.
The Supreme Court has changed the law, and Kim expected Silver to be reconvicted and retired. Silver's and Dean Skelos' cases made fighting the corruption more strong. According to the federal appeals court, after closing arguments, the prosecutors showed this case as an example of the bad jury instruction.
