Accused NY assemblyman's staffer arrested

Federal authorities on Thursday charged a New York state lawmaker's chief of staff with helping her boss collect bribes.

Ryan Hermon was arrested on Thursday. She was released on $100,000 bail after a brief appearance in federal court in Brooklyn.

The arrest comes two days after Assemblyman William Boyland was charged with soliciting more than $250,000 in bribes from a carnival promoter and two FBI agents pretending to be corrupt businessmen. The Democrat was released on $100,000 bail without entering a plea.

A criminal complaint filed Thursday alleges that Hermon was caught on tape demanding under-the-table payments from the promoter and undercover agents in exchange for the assemblyman's help in getting permits carnivals and closing shady real estate deals.

Hermon and her attorney declined to comment.