Former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, a consummate backroom dealer who wielded power for more than two decades, was sentenced to 12 years in Federal Prison on federal corruption charges. He must report to prison by noon on July 1.
Silver’s lawyers asked the judge to recommend that he go to Otisville prison camp — a popular destination for Orthodox Jewish prisoners. The judge reponded that she doesn’t have ultimate control over where he goes, but she will recommend that to the Bureau of Prisons.
Silver, a 72-year-old Manhattan Democrat, lowered his head slightly and closed his eyes briefly as a stern U.S. Judge Valerie Caproni announced his fate.
“I hope the sentence I impose upon you will make other politicians think twice until their better angels take over — or, if there are no better angels, perhaps the fear of living out his golden years in an orange jumpsuit,” said Caproni, who also ordered Silver to forfeit $5.3 million and pay a $1.75 million fine.
Silver led the Assembly for more than two decades before he became the centerpiece of one of New York’s steepest political falls from grace. He was convicted last year in a $5 million corruption case alleging he traded favors to enrich himself and then lied about it.
“I believe in the justice system, and we will pursue all remedies that are available,” Silver said as he left court. He’s free on bail for now; he’s scheduled to report to prison July 1.
His sentencing was a marquee moment in Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara’s quest to clean up a state government he has called a “cauldron of corruption.”
More than 30 other state lawmakers have left office under a cloud of criminal or ethical allegations since 2000. More than a dozen have been convicted of charges including authorizing bribes to get on a ballot, diverting money meant for community programs into a campaign and skimming funds from contributions to a Little League baseball program. Only Democratic former Assemblyman William Boyland Jr., convicted of taking bribes, is serving a longer sentence than Silver’s.
Silver’s former state Senate counterpart, Republican ex-Majority Leader Dean Skelos, is due to be sentenced later this month on his own corruption conviction. Skelos was found guilty, at a separate trial, of using his position to arrange payments and a job for his son.
Bharara called Silver’s sentence “a just and fitting end to Sheldon Silver’s long career of corruption.”
The gray-haired, bespectacled Silver was first elected in 1976 and served as speaker for 21 years, becoming the classic Albany insider with the power to control bills and state spending singlehandedly in behind-the-scenes negotiations. Known for his often inscrutable comments and wary, phlegmatic demeanor, Silver gained the nickname “the Sphinx.”
Prosecutors say Silver came to trade his office for $4 million in kickbacks from a cancer researcher and real estate developers. In a pre-sentencing filing, prosecutors also said he’d abused his position by giving preferential professional treatment to two women with whom he had extramarital affairs. He helped one get a state government job, prosecutors said.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Cohen said Tuesday that Silver had been protected for years by systems he put in place to cover up his crimes, including measures to restrict disclosures of outside income.
Silver told the judge Tuesday he had let down his family, colleagues and constituents.
“I’m truly, truly sorry for that,” he said.
His lawyers sought a sentence of community service and house arrest, saying Silver still could help the public and noting that he has been treated for prostate cancer over the last year.
Silver and Skelos comprised two of the so-called “three men in a room” who control state government. The third man, Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, promised sweeping changes to New York’s anti-corruption laws after Silver’s and Skelos’ convictions. But the Republican-led Senate and Democratic Assembly are deadlocked on proposed reforms.
The response to Silver’s sentencing was muted among legislators. Cuomo, meanwhile, said it “sent a simple message that officials who abuse the public’s trust will be held accountable.”
Bharara also is investigating Cuomo’s office, looking into potential conflicts of interest and improper bidding in a signature state economic development program in Buffalo. The prosecutor also is examining consulting work done by one of Cuomo’s former top aides in 2014, when the aide spent eight months on leave. In response, Cuomo’s administration is conducting an internal review.
(AP)
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20 Responses
Tthe man was single handily behind toeiva marriage happening in NY. and was always against helping tuition paying parents.
12 years is robbing life from a person!!!
The punishment does not meet the crime. If he took money punishh with money, jail is stupid and costly!!!!
Most prosecutors are the worst people in the world. They are out to punish people, not to help society!
I didn’t agree with Shelly Silver on much (especially on his statement to Hamodia that he can’t help yeshiva parents due to the Blaine Amendment), but I think that this is a huge miscarriage of justice. Shelly Silver may have wielded much power and perhaps abused some of his powers, but he did not conduct any quid pro quo transactions. He was indicted simply because he was a powerful politician and not because any wrongdoing was proven beyond a reasonable doubt. It’s scary that our justice system punishes people due to their faith or profession. A travesty.
Sheldon Silver performed hundreds of positive acts & actions for the Jews.
Chaval !
From the president on down, one could probably count on 1 hand how many govt politicians and officials would not be found seriously corrupted and deserving of the dungeon if only they would be brought to justice! The corruption abounds and spreads like the plague even amongst our “do gooders” in our community.
Funny that this week’s Pirkei Avos, perek alef: mishna 10 – Shemayah says: ….despise positions of power; and do not become overly familiar with the government. – For those who do not have the Artscroll commentary on that:
“One should try not to hold positions of command and control, for they shorten a man’s life (Rashi). Seats of authority are a precarious perch. Jealousy abounds in any political arena, people seek to undermine one’s influence, and one constantly feels forced to react in a spiritually inappropriate fashion in order to protect his power. The outcome is that power corrupts (Rambam).” There’s more and it’s worth studying it, but here’s the end of that piece: (Rambam ) “…Most who follow the Torah, lose their fear of Heaven upon attaining government office…”
Forgive my ignorance Mr Marx but why is what you wrote not loshon hora?
If someone commits a crime they should be punished.
raboisai—- he is a yid and as long as thats the case, we must care for him as a brother. mr marx, get urself checked out by a rabbi. PURE LASHON HARA, whats the matter with u???? lishana habaah birushalaim
Agreed
He deserves 12 years in prison not so much for the corruption charges against him but rather the Chillul Hashem he caused. Better for him to be punished in this world then in Gehenom.
@h8mprebba:
Our love for each other should not lead us to defend Rashayim at the cost of making enemies from other Jews, and insulting karlmarx’s Judaism.
Just saying, Sheldon Silver committed a crime.
Sheldon silver is a true ohev yisroel and is machshiv torah and supported torah institutions! Hes a nice man and down to earth.. And has helped lots of yidden personally. This is pure injustice and sad!
There is no excuse for his support of Toeiva rights.
With his other misdeeds he has brought a great chillul Hashem.
amazing, no one mentioned the chillul hashem. you are all tainted. just look at his black hat.
To No. 8
Stop with this “rabbosai” stuff as if Silver was somehow this innocent neshama who has been set up for prosecution by a hostile government determined to “take down” a ehrliche yid. There was overwhelming evidence presented by a prosecution team that included several yidden at a of multiple felonies committed over a period of many years. This was not a one time error in judgment. Once and for all, we have to stop excusing yidden who commit these crimes because the may have simultaneously funneled money to yiddeshe mosdos or engaged in acts of tzedakah. A ganof is a ganof is a ganof. Hopefully, the stiff sentence will deter others from following in his footsteps. The fact that Otisville is the federal prison of choice for yiddeshe felons because they have daily minyanim and a daf yomi chavurah sadly tells the story of how bad things have gotten.
…Ki lo b’moso yikach hakol…V’afilu b’hasturu, sh’bsoich hasturu… This episode is a mussar sefer. Uch un vei. Oy lanu miyom hadin, oy lanu m’yom hatochacha…
May this be the end of supporting politicians who endorsed immorality simply because of parochial goodies.
The mental gymnastics on display justifying rechilus and other violations of bein adam lichaveiro is truly frightening.
When frum yidden defend criminal behavior, they encourage other “frum” yidden to persist in criminal behavior.
It is high time for the Torah world to stand up for what is just in the eyes of G-d and stop defending criminals with yarmulkas.
Zero tolerance for breaking the law, no matter how noble your intentions!
“Otisville Prison Camp – a popular destination for Orthodox Jewish prisoners”
Oy!!!!!