Documents released in federal court this morning detail evidence from the U.S. Attorney that former Assemblyman Sheldon Silver was involved in two extramarital affairs.
The documents unsealed today ahead of Silver’s sentencing for public corruption crimes next month do not reveal the names of the women. But in a letter to Judge Valerie Caproni, prosecutors wrote that one of them was a lobbyist who met with the former speaker of the assembly “on a regular basis on behalf of clients who had business before the state.”
Silver, prosecutors said, “used his official position to recommend” a second woman for a state job. The position, while not specifically mentioned, was described as one, “over which he exercised a particularly high level of control.”
Lawyers in the U.S. Attorney’s office wanted to use the evidence in Silver’s trial last fall, but the judge shut down those efforts. The documents remained sealed until today; they were heavily redacted. Silver’s lawyers tried to keep them secret, but prosecutors successfully argued that they’re relevant to the his sentencing hearing, scheduled for May 3. Lawyers for news organizations also pressed for their release.
Defense attorney Joel Cohen released a statement this morning, saying “These are simply unproven and salacious allegations that have no place in this case or public discussion.”
On Nov. 30, Silver was found guilty of honest services fraud, extortion and money laundering. He was forced to give up his seat after 40 years representing the Lower East Side. A special election will be held next Tuesday to select a new assembly member in Lower Manhattan.
In court yesterday, Judge Caproni said of the information contained in the documents, “This is not one of his better moments.” Explaining her decision, she added, “I view this as of a piece of the crimes” for which Mr. Silver was convicted, namely the “misuse of his public office. And I think it’s relevant.”
In February, the judge’s written ruling stated:
Each (woman) allegedly had an extramarital affair with a public official and then exploited her relationship with the public official for personal gain… The expectation of privacy in an amorous relationship where official government business and personal benefit are intertwined is necessarily less than an amorous relationship between wholly private citizens or between a private citizen and a government official where there is no intersection with state business.
More details from Newsday:
Prosecutors… said they had a recording of a conversation between Silver and the first woman in which they discussed “both State and private business” and in parts spoke “quietly and in whispers” discussing how to conceal their relationship from reporters. “I don’t think he caught us,” Silver said in response to his alleged lover’s concern about inquiries being made by one reporter. The government said the lobbyist was widely viewed as someone with “special access” to Silver and got clients “in part because of her access.” Silver communicated with the second woman on a secret cellphone that was not in his name, prosecutors said, and called two different state officials to try to get her a job without revealing the personal relationship.
UPDATE 1:10 p.m. This from the Daily News:
A source identified the lobbyist as Patricia Lynch, a former aide to Silver who founded her own powerhouse lobbying firm, Patricia Lynch & Associates. Lynch was well-known for her close ties to Silver… Lynch, through her office, declined comment.
