An appeals court judge has overturned former State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver’s conviction on official corruption charges (Silver is just left of center in the photo).
The Manhattan Democrat had been found guilty of money laundering, fraud and extortion in State Supreme Court. The judge followed a United States Supreme Court precedent which overturned the official corruption conviction of former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell.
Silver was found guilty of accepting more than $4 million in bribes through various schemes including now-show jobs. His lawyers argued the money was received legitimately and didn’t amount to kickbacks.