Sheldon Silver's statements on corrupt lawmakers should be admitted at trial, prosecutors say

Prosecutors in the corruption case against former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver argued Wednesday that statements he made about other corrupt legislators should be admitted at trial to show that he was misleading the public and had criminal intent.

Silver has a November trial scheduled on charges that he received $4 million in fees from law firms generated by developers and a doctor whom he used his legislative clout to help. Those arrangements were not fully described on his state financial disclosures.

In a filing with U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni, the government said Silver's public claims after the convictions of Assemb. Anthony Seminerio and Sen. Joe Bruno that he fully disclosed all his sources of outside income would show that he knew what the law required, and was knowingly evading it.

Silver's defense lawyers have argued that any evidence on other Albany corruption cases risks tarring Silver with guilt by association. The two sides have been exchanging arguments on what evidence should be admitted.

Silver, 71, resigned as speaker after his indictment this year, but continues to serve his Manhattan district in the Assembly.