Sheldon Silver convicted on all counts in fraud and corruption trial

Sheldon Silver, a native Lower East Sider, has led the state Assembly for the past 20 years. — Sheldon Silver, a native Lower East Sider, led the state Assembly for 20 years before his fall from power in January of this year, when he was arrested on fraud and corruption charges.

BY LINCOLN ANDERSON | Former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver was convicted on Monday on all counts in his federal fraud and corruption trial. The charges against the longtime Lower Manhattan lawmaker included honest services fraud, extortion and money laundering, in connection with two schemes that raked in $4 million in kickbacks for him.

Silver sat flanked by his defense team, Joel Cohen and Justin Shur, while Judge Valerie Caproni read the verdict sheet to the jury foreperson. Silver had a slight grimace on his face as the guilty verdicts were read.

Silver, 71, for years one of New York State’s most powerful politicians, must now automatically forfeit his Assembly seat.

Silver Guilty Verdict pic — Sheldon Silver sat flanked by his defense team, Joel Cohen and Justin Shur, while Judge Valerie Caproni read the verdict sheet to the jury foreperson (not pictured). By the judge’s order, courtroom artists were not allowed to depict the jury members in this case. Illustration by Elizabeth Williams

Following Silver’s conviction, District Leader Paul Newell — a leading candidate to run for Silver’s seat — was first out of the gate in issuing a statement:

“This is a sad day for Lower Manhattan and a sad day for New York,” Newell said. “Today’s verdict proves it is up to us to reclaim our government. No court will end Albany’s culture of corruption and cronyism. If we, as voters and citizens, continue to accept a government that favors those who buy power and influence, then that will be the government we get. But, if we want a government that is fair, transparent, and works for all of us, we must reclaim it ourselves. We can and must do better. The time for us to act is now.”

His co-district leader, Jenifer Rajkumar, also a leading candidate for Silver’s former seat, said: “Lower Manhattan residents must now come together across neighborhoods, income levels, and ethnicities, investing in a sense of collective destiny as we tackle the district’s pressing challenges of affordability, school overcrowding, and small business survival. We must also come together to address larger national issues of gun violence, national security and equal pay for equal work. Working together, we can replace the culture of corruption in Albany with a culture of service. I look forward to being a part of this movement in any way that best serves our community and ensures honest and effective leadership for the future.”