The arrest of Queens Senator Malcolm Smith is already causing political fallout in the state Legislature, as the senate’s Independent Democratic Conference has stripped Smith of his committee assignments and leadership positions.

The former senate leader’s political future is now hazy, after he was arrested this morning and charged with wire fraud and bribery conspiracy in connection with an alleged corruption scheme to secure the Republican nomination for city mayor from the five boroughs’ Republican Party leaders.

In a statement today, the Independent Democratic conference leader, state Senator Jeff Klein of the Bronx, says, “As a result of these charges, I have made the decision to strip Senator Smith of his committee assignments and of his conference leadership position…. I believe that Senator Smith should seriously consider whether or not he can continue to effectively serve his constituents.”

Smith is no stranger to controversy in his 13 years in the state Senate. He was majority leader and temporary president of upper house in 2009 after Democrats took the majority. At the time, there was no lieutenant governor, so Smith was second in line to then-Governor David Paterson.

He was then stripped of his position in the state Senate coup which took place just a few months later after he took power and brought Republicans back into the majority with a coalition government.

Late last year, Smith made headlines when he opted to leave the Democratic Senate conference and join the breakaway Independent Democratic Conference.

Another Independent Democratic senator, David Carlucci of Rockland County, is mentioned but not named in the complaint. U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara added today that there is no evidence of misdeeds by Carlucci in this investigation.

(Source: NY1)