Sheldon Silver’s long list of accomplishments was ultimately overshadowed by a corruption scandal in 2015. It was revealed that the politician had been using his office for personal gain, solidifying his place in history as someone who turned the state legislature into a private money-making operation. Read on to learn more about this controversial New Yorker on manhattanyes.
Education and Legal Career
Sheldon Silver was born on Manhattan on February 13, 1944, to Russian immigrant parents. His father was in the metal business. An Orthodox Jew, Silver graduated from the Rabbi Jacob Joseph High School, where he captained the basketball team. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yeshiva University and a Juris Doctor from Brooklyn Law School.
From 1968 to 1971, Silver worked at a private law firm. Between 1971 and 1976, he served as a law secretary to Judge Francis N. Pecora. From 1977 to 2015, while also pursuing his political career, Silver allegedly worked as a legal counsel for Weitz & Luxenberg. This firm specializes in representing clients with injuries from asbestos exposure, dangerous drugs and medical devices, and environmental issues. Later, Silver’s work with this firm came under journalistic scrutiny, ultimately leading to the corruption scandal.
Politics
Sheldon Silver served as a member of the New York State Assembly from 1977 to 2015. Additionally, he was the Speaker of the Assembly from 1994 to 2015. As an Assemblyman, he championed various liberal initiatives, such as raising the minimum wage and building affordable housing. Silver made significant contributions to civil liberties, reproductive rights, and the legalization of same-sex marriage.
Throughout his career, Silver was a staunch advocate for government regulation of New York City apartment rents. In 1999, he played a crucial role in eliminating the city’s commuter tax for non-residents. This change was particularly popular with those commuting from surrounding areas but was met with disapproval by New York City residents.
The Legislative Dictator
While Sheldon Silver did much to improve community life, his tenure as Assembly Speaker earned him a reputation as a tough negotiator. He frequently opposed proposals from other lawmakers, earning him the nickname “Dr. No.” This was partly due to him being the sole Democrat at the negotiating table during Republican Governor George Pataki’s three terms.
Silver was responsible for blocking several high-profile initiatives proposed under former Mayor Mike Bloomberg. For instance, the Speaker helped derail a plan to build a football stadium on the Upper West Side. He also influenced the collapse of Bloomberg’s 2008 plan to implement congestion pricing on Manhattan’s busiest roads to reduce traffic.
Furthermore, Sheldon Silver was accused of obstructing the passage of a bill to legalize professional mixed martial arts in New York State. This only passed after his departure from the Assembly, making New York the last state to legalize the sport. The Manhattan native was also accused of repeatedly covering for his criminal colleagues, including those accused of sexual harassment.
In 2000, Silver’s colleagues, unhappy with his leadership style, attempted to unseat him as Speaker. This “coup” failed due to Silver’s immense power. The Speaker controlled almost everything—from which bills could be voted on to how they should be voted on. He secretly negotiated with other leaders to craft legislation that benefited him, often ignoring the wishes of less influential lawmakers.
Legal Battles
In 2007, the New York Post accused Silver of refusing to disclose the terms of his employment and income from Weitz & Luxenberg. This sparked a series of investigations, culminating in Silver’s arrest on federal corruption charges in 2015. It was revealed that for years, the Assemblyman had been receiving illicit profits not only from Weitz & Luxenberg but also from Goldberg & Iryami, a law firm specializing in reducing New York real estate taxes for developers. Sheldon Silver filed incomplete income information on his annual disclosures, ultimately obtaining nearly $4 million illegally.
On January 30, 2015, Silver resigned as Speaker but remained an Assemblyman. In April, he faced additional charges for illegal investments made through private vehicles, which generated a net profit of $750,000.
Silver’s trial, on seven counts, lasted for most of November 2015. On November 30, the jury unanimously found the politician guilty on all counts, leading to his expulsion from the Assembly. In May 2016, U.S. Federal Judge Valerie E. Caproni sentenced Silver to 12 years in prison and ordered him to pay approximately $7 million.
After his sentencing, the Manhattan native remained free on bail while his appeal was considered. In July 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in Manhattan overturned the corruption conviction. However, in May 2018, he was found guilty on all charges again, and in July, Judge Caproni reduced her previous sentence by five years, handing Silver a seven-year prison term. He appealed again and remained free on bail. In January 2020, a panel unanimously dismissed three charges related to asbestos cases but upheld four charges of kickbacks and money laundering. In July, Caproni sentenced the politician to 6.5 years in prison and imposed a $1 million fine.
Regarding the asbestos cases, prosecutors had previously accused Silver of exchanging his influence for money. It was alleged that Silver had a secret arrangement with a doctor, persuading him to refer asbestos-cancer patients to a law firm to seek multi-million dollar compensation from the state. However, the appeals court overturned the verdict related to the asbestos patients, citing incorrect jury instructions.
On August 26, 2020, the former Assemblyman finally entered federal prison in Otisville, New York. Nearly a year later, he was transferred to the Federal Medical Center in Devens due to deteriorating health. This prison houses inmates requiring specialized or long-term medical care. Silver likely contracted COVID-19, and it was known that he suffered from chronic kidney disease and cancer.
The ex-legislator himself admitted that he worked tirelessly for the good of the people for 35 years but destroyed everything with his criminal actions. On January 24, 2022, less than a month before his 78th birthday, the politician died. Silver had lost almost 60 pounds in the last six months of his life. For several days before his death, he couldn’t even get out of bed and deeply suffered from being unable to see his wife, who was forbidden from visiting him.