NEW YORK – New York State Assembly
Speaker Sheldon Silver was arrested Thursday. Silver, one of the most
powerful figures in state government, turned himself in at FBI headquarters
in New York City.
Opponents of Silver have long called for the Assembly Democrat majority
to elect someone else to the speaker’s post, a role he has held
for some 20 years.
One of those who have called for a new Assembly speaker has been Assemblyman
Kieran Michael Lalor (R-Fishkill). “It is bad enough that major
decisions in our state are made by three men in a room,” Lalor said.
“As we start a new session and head into budget negotiations, we
can’t have one of those three men in the room under federal indictment
for violating the public trust.”
Area Democratic Assembly Members like Aileen Gunther, Frank Skartados
and Didi Barrett said they believe in the judicial system and will continue
to focus on representing their constituents.
Westchester County Executive Robert Astorino, the failed Republican gubernatorial
candidate last fall, said the arrest of Silver “must be the launching
point for sweeping change in Albany.”
Astorino said Silver’s arrest “raises serious questions about
the Moreland Commission shut down about which I was so critical last year.
Specifically, it begs the question of whether Mr. Silver’s alleged
illegalities were known to the commission when it was shuttered. If they
were, and if that information was not properly referred to law enforcement
authorities, this case will grow.”
