Crooked ex-pol Sheldon Silver is scheduled to show up Monday afternoon before a Manhattan judge to be resentenced in a $4 million bribery scheme — after his request to appear via video feed was rejected.
The disgraced longtime Assembly speaker failed in his bid last week to convince the federal judge to allow him to appear remotely because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“The Courthouse has reopened to the public and implemented screening at entry, mask and social-distancing requirements, and sanitation protocols, among other precautions,” Judge Valerie Caproni wrote in her ruling.
“This Court is currently holding in-person proceedings where those measures are all observed. Accordingly, it is the Court’s preference to conduct Mr. Silver’s re-sentencing at the Courthouse,” she added.
Sheldon Silver leaving his home on Sunday. Silver was convicted of corruption charges in November 2015 and sentenced to 12 years in May 2016.Kevin C. Downs for New York PostThe 76-year-old, once one of the most powerful politicians in Albany, was convicted in 2015 of misusing his position to rake in bribes and sentenced to seven years behind bars.
The verdict was tossed on a technicality while he remained free on appeal. He was retried in 2018 and convicted again. A few of the counts were tossed in his appeal.
Prosecutors have argued that Silver still deserves the seven-year sentence. He insists he should not serve any time in prison, given his age and the health risks associated with COVID-19.
Silver’s appearance is scheduled for 2 p.m.
