New jury convicts Silver

NEW YORK» A jury convicted former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver of public corruption charges Friday, dashing the 74- year-old Democrat’ s second attempt to avoid years in prison after a decades-long career as one of the most powerful politicians in state government.

The verdict, which came on the first full-day of deliberations, was a repeat of the outcome in Silver’s first trial in 2015.

That conviction and a 12-year prison sentence were tossed out by an appeals court as a result of a recent Supreme Court ruling that tweaked the legal boundaries of what constituted corruption.

Silver could again be facing a long prison term when he is sentenced on June 13.

After the verdict, Silver emerged fromthe courthouse and said he would launch another appeal.

“I feel disappointed at this point,” he said. But, he added, “I am very confident that the judicial process will play out in my favor,” he said.

One juror who didn’t give reporters her name said the government casewas too strong for Silver to overcome. Still, the decision “was difficult,” she added. “Everything was difficult. I tried my best.”

In a statement, Democratic Gov. Andrew

said the government case was too strong for Silver to overcome. Still, the decision “was difficult,” she added. “Everything was difficult. I tried my best.”

In a statement, Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the verdict “shows no one is above the law.”