Sheldon Silver Found Guilty On All Counts

Former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver was convicted yesterday of honest-services fraud, extortion, and money laundering “in a trial that is likely to reshape the business of Albany and embolden prosecutors with an appetite for public-corruption cases aimed at the Capitol.”

“Behind Mr. Silver’s legislative success … was a two-pronged scheme that used his political might to earn him millions in private gain,” writes the Wall Street Journal.

“While serving as speaker, the jury found, Mr. Silver conducted dual plots: In one, he directed $500,000 in state grants to the research of an oncologist, Robert Taub, in exchange for patient referrals that earned Mr. Silver fees from the law firm of Weitz & Luxenberg PC.”

Read the full story here.