Former New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver pleaded not guilty to federal corruption charges during an arraignment Tuesday. NY1's Bobby Cuza filed this report.
Sheldon Silver has spent the past month absorbing body blows. Since his arrest on federal corruption charges, he's been pilloried in the media and forced out as Assembly speaker.
On Tuesday though, his first court appearance since a formal indictment was handed up last week, Silver and his attorneys came out swinging.
“We’ve moved to dismiss the indictment, based upon the prosecutor’s improper, extrajudicial comments throughout this case,” said Steven Molo, Silver's attorney.
That prosecutor is U.S. Attorney for the Southern District Preet Bharara. Silver’s attorneys say his public comments at a news conference the day of Silver’s arrest, at a speech the next day where he criticized Albany’s political culture, and in a later TV interview not only prevent Silver from getting a fair trial—they amount to misconduct.
The 26-page motion filed Tuesday says, “The U.S. Attorney’s actions are in plain violation of rules, ethical standards, and Department of Justice guidelines that prohibit the prosecution from publicly opining on the defendant’s guilt.”
“Mr. Silver has been deprived of his right of the presumption of innocence,” Molo said.
As for the charges that Silver essentially monetized his office, steering clients to two law firms that paid him $4 million in referral fees that prosecutors say amounted to bribes and kickbacks, Silver pleaded not guilty to all three counts.
“I believe when this process is over, I will be vindicated. I am not guilty,” said Silver.
While the judge did not set a trial date, prosecutors say they’re prepared to go to trial by June and expect to call 20 to 25 witnesses; both sides are due back in court May 7.
While Silver stepped down as speaker earlier this month, he did not resign his Assembly seat, and for now will be allowed to continue representing his lower Manhattan district in Albany, as he remains free on a $200,000 bond.