Sampson named de facto leader of Senate
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Chaos in Albany
ALBANY - State Senate Democrats named John Sampson of Brooklyn their de facto leader Monday, dumping Malcolm Smith of Queens to win back the support of a key senator.
Sampson, first elected in 1996 and head of the Judiciary Committee, will serve as conference chairman and run the party's day-to-day operations in the Senate. Smith of St. Albans remains majority leader and temporary president...
