New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, one of the state's most powerful Democrats for more than two decades, was arrested on public corruption charges on Thursday after a lengthy corruption investigation, the FBI said.
Silver, a political power broker who represents Manhattan's Lower East Side, has been accused of abusing his powerful position in Albany to obtain millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks masked as legitimate income while concealing "corrupt sources" of outside income, Fox News reported. He faces five counts, including conspiracy and bribery charges.
Known as one of Albany's "Three Men in a Room," the 70-year-old was responsible in creating state budgets, laws and policies along with the governor and Senate majority leader.
"There is probable cause to believe Silver obtained about $4 million in payments characterized as attorney referral fees solely through the corrupt use of his official position," according to the criminal complaint.
However the charges have been called "meritless" by Silver's attorney, Joel Cohen.
"Mr. Silver looks forward to responding to them -- in court -- and ultimately his full exoneration," Cohen said in a statement.
Around 8 a.m. Thursday, the 70-year-old was taken into custody at the FBI's New York City office, FBI spokesman Peter Donald confirmed.
Since 2002, he has allegedly received more than $6 million in income from two law firms for reductions of New York City real estate taxes, with $4 million being in exchange for his "corrupt and secret use," Reuters reported.
"Silver used the power and influence of his official position to obtain for himself millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks masked as legitimate income earned by Silver as a private lawyer," the criminal complaint said.
Meanwhile, Silver is expected to make a court appearance later Thursday. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 20 years in prison on each of the charges, a spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said.
"It is unfortunate that the prosecutors chose to pursue this as a criminal case," Silver's attorney, Steven Molo, said in an email. "We intend to vigorously contest the charges and Mr. Silver looks forward to his day in court."
