LaValle has left outside law firm

Sen. Kenneth LaValle (R-Port Jefferson) has left his job at a law firm, though he said Monday it had nothing to do with the swirl of controversies centering on lawmakers' sources of outside income.

LaValle said he left Twomey, Latham, Shea, Kelley, Dubin and Quartararo, a Riverhead law firm, because founding partner Thomas A. Twomey died last fall. Twomey was a friend and the partner who brought him to the company, LaValle said.

"I told the partners in February I would be leaving," the senator said, adding that he resigned as of April 15 after 12 years with the firm.

LaValle in 2013 was paid $75,000 to $100,000 by the law firm, according to his latest filings with the state ethics commission.

New York lawmakers' outside sources of income have been under the microscope, especially since federal prosecutors charged former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) with pocketing millions in bribes and kickbacks, disguised as legal fees. Silver has pleaded not guilty and said he is innocent.

Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan (R-East Northport) resigned from his law firm last month just before succeeding Sen. Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre), who also has been indicted on corruption charges. Flanagan said he resigned from Forchelli, Curto, Deegan, Schwartz, Mineo and Terrana because his new job required all his attention.