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NY Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver arrested on corruption charges

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver was charged Thursday with fraud and conspiracy in federal court in Manhattan, accused of taking $4 million in bribes and kickbacks disguised as legal fees from people and firms with business before the state.Below, social media users react to the news.

NYS Assembly Speaker #SheldonSilver "took advantage of the political pulpit to benefit from unlawful profits" @NewYorkFBI said

by Aaron Katersky via twitter 1/22/2015 5:44:08 PM
Full house at unsealing of federal corruption complaint against sheldon
silver http://pbs.twimg.com/media/B7-PpzuIYAIWg8B.jpg

by Marcia Kramer via twitter 1/22/2015 5:59:48 PM
"If he is found guilty he should step aside," Speaker @MMViverito says of Speaker Sheldon Silver

by Mara Gay via twitter 1/22/2015 5:59:58 PM
Is anyone asking this? When Cuomo abruptly killed his corruption commission, was he trying to obstruct justice in the Sheldon Silver case?

by geneweingarten via twitter 1/22/2015 6:00:07 PM
Press conference with U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara about to begin in Manhattan on the arrest of Sheldon Silver. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/B7-QdgCCAAAixFy.jpg

by Dan Bazile via twitter 1/22/2015 6:02:52 PM
Bharara taking comments

by Erin Geismar 1/22/2015 6:32:29 PM
It is troublesome and worrisome that the charges that I've described go to the core of the problem. --Bharara

by Erin Geismar 1/22/2015 6:33:39 PM
I should make clear that we have to prove the charges. Silver, like everyone else who gets charged by a state office, is innocent until proven guilty. --Bharara

by Erin Geismar 1/22/2015 6:34:10 PM
In this case, we had been looking at Silver's outside income for some time and then merged our investigation with the information from the Moreland Commission. --Bharara says, adding that his office is looking at other politicians but he would not say who

by Erin Geismar 1/22/2015 6:35:11 PM
#SheldonSilver: Bharara: Charges related to extortion and conspiracy of extortion.

by WNYT NewsChannel 13 via twitter 1/22/2015 6:36:22 PM
The theme of people trying to make money from public positions is not a new one, Bharara says

by Erin Geismar 1/22/2015 6:36:56 PM
#SheldonSilver: Bharara: The investigation is open & ongoing & is not done. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/B7-YlczCUAA-VKr.png

by WNYT NewsChannel 13 via twitter 1/22/2015 6:38:08 PM
Bharara: #SheldonSilver doctor stopped receiving $ after '07 reform blocking Silver handing out discretionary funds...

by CityLand via twitter 1/22/2015 6:42:47 PM
Bharara says he won't get into details of which investigation uncovered what. "We were asking a lot of the same questions," he says.

by Erin Geismar 1/22/2015 6:43:44 PM
He says again that he won't comment on who else might be a
subject of the investigation.

by Erin Geismar 1/22/2015 6:44:53 PM
Bharara: #SheldonSilver maximum on each of 5 counts is 20 years, but left up to discretion of judge

by CityLand via twitter 1/22/2015 6:45:18 PM
Bharara explains the difference between a complaint and an indictment. A complaint is approved by a judge, an indictment is approved by a grand jury. When you proceed on a complaint, that doesn't negate the necessity of a grand jury indictment as you move forward.

by Erin Geismar 1/22/2015 6:47:13 PM
And that's the end of the press conference.

by Erin Geismar 1/22/2015 6:48:34 PM
Most notable quote? Arguably:
Laura Figueroa
@Laura_Figueroa
Bharara: "Politicians are suppose to be on the people's payroll not on special retainer" for big business/special interests
Jan. 22, 2015
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by Erin Geismar 1/22/2015 6:50:27 PM