Silver retrial held up by sick witness
THE RETRIAL of former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver will be delayed by up to two weeks due to a star government witness’ medical problems.
Silver’s trial was originally set to begin Monday in Manhattan Federal Court. But during a hearing Tuesday, Silver’s attorneys revealed that Columbia University physician Robert Taub — who played a key role in Silver’s alleged kickback scheme involving mesothelioma patients — may soon require surgery, making him unavailable to testify.
The trial is expected to start April 23 or April 30.
Silver (photo) was one of the most powerful politicians in New York across a half-century career when he was convicted of all seven counts in his November 2015 corruption trial.
But a Supreme Court decision narrowing public corruption laws resulted in his conviction being overturned.
He is accused of a pair of crooked schemes worth $4 million in kickbacks and bribes.