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Embattled Sheldon Silver Will Temporarily "Step Back" From Leadership Role
By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 26, 2015
Modified Jan 26, 2015
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By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 26, 2015
Modified Jan 26, 2015
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Days after being arrested for allegedly orchestrating millions in bribes and kickbacks, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver will reportedly give up his powers as speaker—just temporarily, of course. And it looks like Albany needs about five Democrats to replace one Shelly.
The Daily News reports, "A source with direct knowledge of the deal says the chamber will be run jointly by five veteran Assembly Democrats — Majority Leader Joseph Morelle (D-Rochester), Herman "Denny" Farrell (D-Manhattan), Joseph Lentol (D-Brooklyn), Cathy Nolan (D-Queens) and Carl Heastie (D-Bronx)." They're gonna need to build a bigger room!
The NY Times has a few more details:
Under the plan, which the Assembly’s Democratic caucus is to consider in a closed-door meeting on Monday afternoon, Mr. Silver would “not specifically step down, but step back,” according to a person briefed on the situation, who insisted on anonymity because the plan had not yet been presented to the caucus.
Immediately after Mr. Silver’s arrest on Thursday, Democrats in the Assembly rallied behind him. Mr. Silver, who has proved adept over the years at withstanding ethical and legal scrutiny, predicted he would be vindicated.
But in the past few days, as legislators conferred and newspaper editorials called for Mr. Silver’s resignation, some members of his caucus grew convinced that he could not continue to be effective in his post with the cloud of scandal hanging over him.
His spokesman Michael Whyland said, "The Speaker is not stepping down He is appointing a group of senior members. ... This will give him the flexibility he needs so that he can defend himself against these charges, and he is confident that he will be found innocent."
The Post says, "Sources said that as the talks to give up power went on, Silver was facing the possibility of a coup to force him out. 'You can expect some of the members to try to push him aside,' said one source." And other members weren't happy; one told the Times, "This is a top-down approach. We weren’t consulted, and it’s wrong."
Silver's shadowy earnings from the Weitz & Luxenburg law firm caught up with him, as U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara accused him of directing $500,000 in state funds to a top Columbia University cancer doctor, who, in turn, sent patients to Weitz & Luxenberg for personal injury claims; and taking over $700,000 from a small real estate tax assessment law firm.
Silver, who was elected to the Assembly in 1976 and has been speaker since 1994, is out on $200,000 bail.
Tagged
Albany
assembly
Assembly Speaker
corruption
sheldon silver
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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