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| Ed Braunstein previously worked in Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver's Manhattan district office. |
In an only-in-Albany moment, Brian Meara, a veteran lobbyist and longtime friend of Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, was publicly revealed to be cooperating in Bharara’s case against the speaker a day after his nephew, Assemblyman Edward Braunstein of Queens, attended a news conference of Assembly Democrats supporting Silver.
Braunstein attended a nearly two-hour meeting of Assembly Democratic members hours after Silver's arrest. Afterward, several dozen of Silver's members came out for a press conference to say they support keeping Silver as speaker.
That widespread support began to erode over the weekend, leading to Silver to cut a deal in which he will turn over control for now of the chamber to five veteran Assembly members as he fights the criminal charges against him.
Meanwhile, Meara, who has been close with Silver for four decades, is cooperating with U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara's case against Silver.has been cooperating as a “fact witness” as part of U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara's investigation, sources told The News.
16 comments:
These are the guys who who love and encourage mis informtion about evnts like the Garner case. It deflects away from them so they can continue to line their pockets , they are Felons. I can't see where any half wit doesn't see we need term limits.
So Are they looking into how Braunstein got into the Assembly? Sounds like something out of an Alan Hevesi play book.
According to today (Tuesday) Daily News, Silver is stepping down permanently.
Let's see those handcuffs one more time. Please.
Dire predictions mean nothing in this case. Silver will never see the inside of a cell unfortunately...
You should investigate Giannaris also. He worked for shelly and then was thrust into long time assembly member Butlers seat as part of a backroom deal with Manton. After supporting Butler on three prior elections they told Butler step down or get embarrassed. And so Mike became the next county puppet and then came Aravellaa Mike's puppet.
Dire predictions mean nothing in this case. Silver will never see the inside of a cell unfortunately...
Not quite sure where you're getting your information, but someone facing 5 counts at 20 years apiece usually does some time.
On top of that, you're talking about corruption of one of the top three most powerful people in the state. The Feds are definitely going to want to make an example of Silver.
Like they made an example out of Spitzer.
Shelly walks.
There is an old Chinese saying: "the mountains are high and the emperor is far away.”
This works in both direction here. It is bizarre that this city is governed by what is essentially an insular-isolated cabal located in a hick town, hours away from the city which funds it.
What happens is the "summer camp syndrome". Pol's are so far removed from this city that they feel free to get away with shenanigans and are easy prey for lobbyists and special interests Their relative isolation from constituents and NYC media means that deals are made that WE -the taxpayer often know nothing about.
New York City should be governed RIGHT HERE in NYC. Right where we'd have a fighting chance to keep an eye on it.
Like they made an example out of Spitzer.
Shelly walks.
I don't see the similarities between the two. Spitzer was paying off hookers, maybe with campaign funds. Silver is accused of using his office to provide access and enrich himself. Quid pro blow versus Quid pro quo.
they all do stick together don't they
Spitzer was never even arrested, and the Feds stumbled onto his activities by accident. However, Shelly was the target of an investigation - which resulted in his arrest. Why arrest him if the Feds aren't looking for jail time?
At first glance Braunstein appears to be an amiable hack. Further examination might reveal that he is as crooked as a winding country road. That road leads to Cuomo.
Anon no. 11:
And just who do you mean by "they"?
Actually, I know. Just want to know if you have the balls to say it.
Spitzer had his own money. His family is extremely well off. Silver stole his.
Ultimately Bruno, who was one of the "3 men in the room" got off, even though it was on appeal. He is now suing the government for the millions in attorney fees he paid lawyers to get him off.
What is weird is that Preet is using some of the same "deprivation of honest services" language in the Silver case that the US Supreme Court struck down in the Bruno case. Will be interesting to see how that works out for him.
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