Former Assemblyman Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan). (Source: AP)

Former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, one of the most powerful figures in state government for two decades before his conviction on corruption charges, has died in federal custody. He was 77.

Silver died Monday, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.

WXXI reports Silver, an Orthodox Jew whose parents were Russian immigrants, was a native of Manhattan’s Lower East Side. He was elected to the state Assembly in 1977, and as speaker in 1994. He held the post for more than two decades, and at the time was one of the state’s most powerful politicians.

Silver survived an attempted coup in 2000 on his leadership from Syracuse-area Assemblyman Michael Bragman. For years afterward, he wielded influence in key negotiations on the state’s budget and other policy issues, often giving briefings after closed-door leaders meeting in his distinctive deep, gravelly voice.

The late former speaker was criticized for his handling of sexual harassment charges against former Assemblyman Vito Lopez, and also against a former top aide, who was accused of raping two legislative aides while he was working for the speaker and eventually pleaded guilty to sexual misconduct.

Silver fell from grace in 2015, when he was arrested on federal corruption charges by the U.S. Attorney of the Southern District of New York. He resigned from the speaker’s post.

Silver remained an Assemblyman, but had to leave that post later that year when he was convicted on multiple felony charges for illegally netting $4 million for engineering bribery and kickback schemes. The former speaker saw the charges overturned on appeal, but was convicted in a retrial in 2018. After losing more appeals, he began serving a 6.5-year prison term in July 2020. He also had to pay a $1 million fine.

Silver, who was suffering from cancer, was briefly released to his home in May 2021, under provisions of a pandemic-related federal policies that allowed early release to some medically vulnerable inmates. But after public outcry, he was sent back two days later to the federal prison in Otisville, where he died on Monday.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo during his 2017 State of the State speech in Buffalo on Jan. 9, 2017. (image from New York Governor’s Office)

ALBANY – With scandals continuing to plague the state Capitol, Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday rolled out a series of ethics reforms that are similar to previous proposals, but which have  so far failed to get approved by the state legislature.

“We are limited by our public support, and if that legislature and if our executive wants to really do all they can, we need to improve the public trust,” Cuomo said during the final of his six regional State of the State addresses in Albany.

The state Legislature last year grappled with the convictions on corruption charges of the former leaders of the Senate and Assembly and in September, Cuomo’s own office was rocked by scandal. His former top aide Joseph Percoco and economic development czar Alain Kaloyeros, then president of the SUNY Polytechnic Institute, were among nine people charged with alleged kickbacks and bid rigging involving upstate projects.

Last month, Cuomo sought to get the Legislature to agree to a package of ethics reforms as part of a deal for their first pay raise since 1999. But the deal fell apart, and now Cuomo is trying yet again to get lawmakers to approve his sixth attempt at ethics reform.

Cuomo’s 10-point proposal released on Wednesday is largely the same ideas he put forth last month: limiting lawmakers’ outside income; imposing term limits; and eliminating a loophole that lets companies open LLCs to skirt campaign-contribution limits. He also again proposed a system of public financing for elections and bolstering the state’s Freedom of Information Law by requiring the Legislature to comply. For the executive branch, he would install greater oversight of the state’s contracting process, including at the state’s public colleges.

Some of the measure have been backed by lawmakers, but Republicans who control the Senate have largely opposed limits on their outside income — which is the key issue that led to the conviction of former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan.

It remains to be seen how much of the new proposal will be accepted during this current legislative session.

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.

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.

NY Assemblyman Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan). (Source: AP)

ALBANY – Former state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver was in a federal courthouse in Manhattan on Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to federal fraud and extortion charges following his indictment last week.

In addition, his lawyers asked a judge to throw out the case, saying the U.S. Attorney in charge of the case went too far in discussing the case publicly.

Silver is accused of using his power in the State Assembly to reap $4 million in kickbacks. The investigation by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara (Buh-Rare-Uh) was announced last month and led to Silver step down as Assembly Speaker while he battles the corruption charges. However, he still retains the lower Manhattan Assembly seat he has held for nearly 40 years.

Silver’s attorneys contest that Bharara’s statements after Silver’s arrest in January broke rules about what prosecutors can say outside of court and prejudiced the grand jury that indicted him last week.

Silver’s successor as Assembly speaker, Democrat Carl Heastie, has promised to focus on ethics and integrity. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has also suggested his own proposals, including full disclosure of outside income.

According to the Albany Times Union, the Senate minority party on Monday unveiled a package of ethics reforms that includes legislation that could curb the type of misdeeds that have put Sheldon Silver in hot water, removing him from his role as Assembly speaker.

The Democrats are proposing a 12-piece package that includes reforms of everything from legislators’ outside income to the LLC loophole to lawmakers’ abilities to spend campaign cash on lawyer fees. The package mirrors some aspects of the ethics proposal that Gov. Andrew Cuomo is handcuffing to passage of an on-time budget.

Senate Republicans – who control the state’ also would seem to be on board with talking about ethics reforms. A spokesman said the GOP is working with the governor and Assembly “to get real results and real reforms that improve our state’s ethics and disclosure laws.”

Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) was voted as the new speaker of the NY State Assembly on Feb. 3, 2015, replacing the embattled Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan).

ALBANY – The new leader of the New York state Assembly is promising to focus on ethics and integrity.

On Tuesday, members of the assembly overwhelmingly voted to approve Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) as the new speaker, replacing a lawmaker whose two-decade reign ended with federal corruption charges. Democrats hold a more than two-thirds majority in the chamber, and Heastie easily won the post over Republican Minority Leader Brian Kolb.

Following the vote, Heastie vowed to create a new office of ethics compliance and take other steps to clean up Albany’s tradition of corruption and backroom dealing.

Former speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) is charged with taking nearly $4 million in payoffs and kickbacks.

Heastie outlined his reform proposal even before officially taking over as speaker. Besides calling for a new Office of Ethics and Compliance, he also called for new limits on how much outside income lawmakers can earn, and greater reporting of outside income and legislative stipends. He also said he would look for ways to decentralize Assembly power so rank-and-file lawmakers have more input.

The 47-year-old Heastie was first elected in 2000 and has led the Assembly’s Labor Committee for the past two years. He is a former budget analyst in the New York City Comptroller’s Office. He also leads the Bronx Democratic County Committee, a post he has said he will leave now that he is speaker.

He is the first African-American to hold the position of New York State Assembly Speaker.

NY Governor Andrew Cuomo

ALBANY – Governor Andrew Cuomo doesn’t plan to sign a new budget unless lawmakers agree to a major ethics overhaul.

On Monday the governor held a news conference in Albany to discuss his plan for ethics reform, in the wake of a corruption scandal against former Assembly speaker Sheldon Silver, with more investigations believed to be underway by the U.S. Attorney’s office.

The governor said that a single corruption case is one too many, and the Silver case makes it imperative for lawmakers to understand the time is now to restore trust in government.

Cuomo said the Legislature has to decide whether to become full-time or put stringent checks and balances on outside income, adding that he will not sign a budget that does not include his ethics plan.

The governor’s plan includes:

• Full disclosure of outside income
• Forfeiture of pension if convicted of a crime
• Campaign finance reform
• Outlawing campaign funds for personal expenses
• Reform of per diem expenses

On Monday, Silver resigned as assembly speaker, although he will continue to serve in the assembly for his home district in Manhattan. His likely replacement will be Democratic Assemblyman Carl Heastie of the Bronx, who also serves as the Democratic Party Chairman for Bronx County. Heastie says he will give up that post and will also forgo outside income while serving as speaker. Heastie has also said that he wants to tour upstate New York in order to get a better understanding of upstate needs as he prepares the Assembly’s agenda for this year and future years.