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, the federal Bureau of Prisons said, adding that the official cause of death would be determined by the medical examiner.
Silver’s supporters had said he was in failing health from multiple medical conditions. He had been serving his sentence at the Federal Medical Center in Devens, Massachusetts, but was in a hospital in nearby Ayer, Massachusetts, at the time of his death, the bureau said.
The Manhattan Democrat, who told a judge he prayed he would not die in prison, was serving a more than six-year sentence for using his clout in state government to benefit real estate developers, who rewarded Silver by referring lucrative business to his law firm.
Silver’s conviction ended a nearly four-decade career in the Assembly. He first won a seat representing Manhattan’s Lower East Side in 1976. Although he cut a low-key figure in the halls of the state Capitol, carefully parsing out comments in a baritone mumble, he was a consummate practitioner of Albany’s inside game.
He became Assembly speaker in 1994, a powerful position that made him one of Albany's “three men in a room” negotiating annual budgets and major legislation with the governor and state Senate leader.
In all, Silver served as speaker during the tenure of five New York governors, from Mario Cuomo to Andrew Cuomo.
14 comments:
Three men in the room is now down to two !
Ex Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Silver and Dean Skelos “the Three Amigos” of New York.
Boo, hoo, hoo.
Everyone has to go at sometime.
His time was now.
See I told you I was sick....
It's rare to see one of these ultra-insiders get what he deserves. This was my feel good story of the day.
In a more sane country the Clintons, Bidens and Schumers would also be behind bars.
It's a shame that more of them can't follow his example!
Good riddance.
And we will read here more comments against Republicans even if this one was a Democrat too.
Would have been ironic if he died of mesothelioma.
Can we all agree he was replaced with even more evil Demorats ?
In a more sane country the Clintons, Bidens and Schumers would also be behind bars.
Add Alex Azar to the list, Waxman also.
Land of Nancy, Adam, Diane, Kamala…. Says everything
But brainwashed democrats will blame Trump.
#Tempertantrumjoe said...
RIP Shelly you crooked "Stupid Son of a Bitch" !
Oh, What will Joanne, his former chief of staff, be drinking now? Will it be the half gallon or whole gallon of Scotch, Whiskey or Rye? She'll have to drown her sorrows. How is it that she didn't end up in prison?
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