Senator Dean Skelos (R-Long Island)

NEW YORK – Former New York Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and his son Adam Skelos were sentenced on Thursday for corruption.

Both faced several corruption charges linked to Dean Skelos using his power in the Senate for Adam’s monetary gain.

Dean Skelos was sentenced to five years in prison for corruption. He must also pay a $500,000 fine.

Adam Skelos was sentenced to 6 1/2 years. He was also ordered to get alcohol counseling. A judge did not impose a fine for Adam because he said he can’t afford one.

Prior to the sentencing, both stood before the judge and made statements, with Dean Skelos saying he is deeply remorseful and understands the seriousness of his charges.

Senator Dean Skelos (R-Long Island)

NEW YORK – Former state Senate leader Dean Skelos and his son were convicted Friday on all charges stemming from a federal corruption case.

The jury’s decision came just one day after deliberations had begun. Skelos and his son, Adam Skelos, were found guilty of eight counts of bribery, extortion and conspiracy.

The former state senator and his son stood shoulder to shoulder outside court after the verdict was read, with their attorney saying they will fight the conviction through the appeals process.

In response to the verdict, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said there can be no tolerance for those who use, and seek to use, public service for private gain, adding that more must be done and will be pursued as part of his legislative agenda.

Skelos – a 67-year-old Long Island Republican – was accused of using his office to extort about $300,000 in salary and other benefits for his son. Prosecutors also alleged Skelos accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars from developers in exchange for political favors.

NEW YORK – The attorneys for former state Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and his son, Adam, are seeking to have two counts of a federal corruption indictment against them tossed. The attorneys also are seeking the suppression of evidence obtained through wiretaps that is central to the case.

The motion was filed Sept. 4 in federal court in Manhattan.

The Skeloses were arrested in May on extortion and bribery charges, and a superseding indictment in June slapped them with two additional charges not part of an original indictment.

John Flanagan

ALBANY – There’s a new leader in the State Senate.

Former Senate leader Dean Skelos stepped down as leader of the New York Senate on Monday in the wake of federal corruption charges and was quickly replaced by another Long Island Republican, Sen. John Flanagan.

Albany insiders speculate that Flanagan’s appointment as the new Senate leader was a key condition in Skelos agreeing to leave his leadership post. Authorities arrested Skelos a week ago on charges that he used his position to extort payments for his son, Adam Skelos, who is also charged. Both men say they are innocent.

The Republican Skelos is the sixth legislative leader to face criminal charges or scandal in Albany since 2008. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, a Democrat, stepped down from his leadership position in January.

Flanagan emerged as the new leader after a three-hour, closed-door meeting with his Republicans colleagues. Less than an hour later, the Senate officially elected Flanagan with a show of 32 hands: all 31 Republicans present – including Senator Cathy Young – voted for Flanagan, as did Democrat Simcha Felder, of Brooklyn, who sits with the GOP.

It was the narrowest majority possible in the 63-seat chamber.

Flanagan is an attorney and 29-year legislative veteran who also spent time in the Assembly. He most recently served as chair of the Senate’s Education Committee. He also came to Jamestown in 2012 as part of an education roundtable forum hosted by Senator Young, focusing on regional school districts for rural areas in upstate New York.

Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Long Island)

ALBANY – Democrats in the State Senate will try once again to oust embattled Republican Majority Leader Dean Skelos when the chamber reconvenes Monday in Albany.

The move could have severe consequences for Senate republicans – with the NY1 Time-Warner-Cable news station reporting that Skelos may decide to resign from his seat and leave the Senate if he were removed from the leadership position. And if that happens, the chamber could inch toward a deadlock between Democrats and Republicans.

The GOP currently has 32 members in the 63 seat chamber. Should Skelos step down, it would be reduced to just 31 members with one of those senators – Tom Libous of Binghamton – severely ill and not in the Capitol. He also faces a federal charge of lying to authorities. If Libous and Skelos were absent, Republicans could end up with just 30 votes. (however, one downstate Democrat in the chamber sits and votes with the Republicans, meaning they would still have 31).

But with 32 votes needed to choose a leader, the GOP is in a precarious position of not having enough votes to choose a new leader, should it come up for a vote. They may be able to convince at least one member of the Independent Democratic Party to support another Republican as leader, but that’s not a guarantee.

As for which Republican would replace Skelos should enough votes be present, Albany insiders say it would either be Syracuse’s John DeFrancisco and Long Island’s John Flanagan.

Skelos was arrested May 4 by federal authorities for allegedly soliciting bribes and extortion. He allegedly used his position to seek political donations and to get work for his son Adam Skelos, who also was arrested.

Chairs are empty on the Democratic side of the Senate Chamber after Democratic senators walked out of session at the Capitol on Wednesday, May 6, 2015, in Albany, N.Y. Democratic lawmakers walked out of the Senate in protest Wednesday after Republicans refused to allow the vote to remove Dean Skelos as Senate majority leader. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

ALBANY –  It was a heated scene on the State Senate floor Wednesday as Senate Democrats walked out of the chamber after being refused to vote for new leadership in the wake of the Dean Skelos corruption allegations.

Skelos – The Republican majority leader – and his son Adam were arrested Monday to answer a federal complaint that charged them with bribery and extortion in relation to legislative favors allegedly performed by the Long Island lawmaker to benefit his son’s employers and clients. Both have declared their innocence, and Skelos remains in power with the support of a “consensus” of his members.

Senate Democrats announced their intention to press for a vote on Skelos’ leadership in a news conference just before Wednesday’s session began. Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Queens), the party’s deputy leader, verbally sparred with presiding Republican Sen. Jack Martins, who would not allow for a suspension of Senate rules in order to allow for the leadership vote to take place. The purpose for the vote would have been to put the chamber’s Republicans on record on whether they support or oppose Skelos.

Martins insisted the motion had not been properly introduced and as a result, would not be acted on. This drew the ire of Gianaris, who’s microphone was turned off as he lobbed heavy criticism at the process, repeatedly calling it shameful. As a show of solidarity, the Democratic conference filed out of the chamber and did not return.

Democrats said they would continue to press their case when the Legislature returns to Albany on Monday.

Also Wednesday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo broke his silence on the charges facing Skelos following an appearance at Syracuse University. The governor said that “If the charges are correct, it’s deeply disturbing.” But the governor refused to call on the Republican conference to act, saying It’s not his place to tell them who their leader should be.

The charges against Skelos, like those that led to the January arrest of former assembly speaker Sheldon Silver, were brought by U.S. Attorney for the Southern District Preet Bharara, who is also reportedly looking into Cuomo and his cancellation of the Moreland Commission panel on public corruption.

Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Long Island)

ALBANY – The federal corruption complaint against Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and his son is “nothing more than a press release,” the embattled Long Island Republican said Tuesday.

On Monday night, Senate Republicans made the decision to retain Skelos as their leader and by Tuesday morning, Skelos continued to declare his innocence, as well as his effectiveness in guiding the GOP small majority through the final weeks of the legislative session.

Skelos and his son Adam turned themselves in to federal authorities Monday morning after being slapped with a criminal complaint accusing them of bribery, extortion and other charges. Prosecutors claim Skelos allegedly worked to “monetize” his office by doling out extensive legislative favors to his son’s business clients.

The complaint is based on a several pieces of evidence including wiretaps and cooperating witnesses.

On Tuesday most Republican senators – including local representative Cathy Young – stood by Skelos, claiming he is innocent until proven guilty.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, has yet to comment on the arrest, despite requests from reporters.

The charges against Skelos, like those that led to the January arrest of Sheldon Silver, were brought by U.S. Attorney for the Southern District Preet Bharara, who is also reportedly looking into Cuomo and his cancellation of the Moreland Commission panel on public corruption.

Dean Skelos (R-Long Island)

NEW YORK – The leader of the New York state Senate surrendered to authorities on Monday to face several corruption charges, including extortion and soliciting bribes.

The charges against 67 year old Dean Skelos (R-Long Island) stem from a federal investigation into the awarding of a $12 million contract to a company that hired his son – 32 year old Adam Skelos – who is also facing charges.

The two men surrendered at the FBI’s offices in lower Manhattan as a criminal complaint was unsealed against them in federal court, where they appeared later in the day.

Authorities said Dean Skelos has used his position as a carrot since at least 2010, taking official actions in return for payments to his son.

The complaint also aid the Senate leader monetized his position by extorting money from others, including hundreds of thousands of dollars from a senior executive of a major real estate development firm who was cooperating with the government. According to court papers, some evidence was obtained through court-authorized wiretaps on cellphones used by the father and son.

In a statement, Dean Skelos said he expected to be exonerated at trial.

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara – who was responsible for arresting former Assembly speaker Sheldon Silver earlier this year – also headed up the investigation against Skelos.

Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Long Island)

ALBANY – The leader of the New York State Senate is refuting a story that came out late last week saying he was also under investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s office.

According to the Albany Times-Union, spokeswoman for Senate Leader Dean Skelos (R-Long Island) says a report by WNBC on Thursday night was a thinly-sourced report and called it irresponsible and not meeting the standards of serious journalism.

The story credited its information to “people familiar with the investigation,” and said U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara – who was the lead investigator in the Silver Corruption investigation – was “taking a hard look at Skelos’ ties to the real estate industry, among other areas of inquiry.

Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Long Island)

ALBANY – Another leader in the New York State legislature is being investigated by the same federal investigator who arrested Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

NBC New York is reporting that U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara has turned his sights on state Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos. The Long Island Republican is being investigated for outside income, particularly his ties to the real estate industry.

No charges have been filed.

In addition to leading the Senate, Skelos (R-Nassau County) serves as of counsel to a Long Island law firm.

He publicly disclosed making between $150,000 and $250,000 from the firm in 2013.

Word of the investigation comes a week after Bharara announced the arrest of powerful longtime Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver on federal corruption charges. In announcing Silver’s arrest, Bharara warned people to “stay tuned” for more Albany corruption arrests.

UPDATE: In response to the report, Skelos’ office sent out a statement Friday morning which said “[Thursday] night’s thinly sourced report by WNBC is irresponsible, and does not meet the standards of serious journalism.”