Former State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos is set to be sentenced Thursday after being convicted on corruption charges. Zack Fink filed the following report.
Dean Skelos was once one of the most powerful men in New York State, but on Thursday, he faces the prospect of a lengthy prison sentence for his corruption conviction last year.
Although Skelos has asked the judge for leniency for him and his son Adam, their fate will be determined at a time when scandal is fresh on people's minds. Todd Howe, an Albany lobbyist, and a former top lieutenant to Governor Andrew Cuomo, Joe Percoco, are being investigated for their role in an economic program boosting the city of Buffalo.
"With what is going on now with Mr. Percoco and Mr. Howe and Mr. de Blasio, added to what we just saw happen with Mr. Silver and what's going to happen this week with Mr. Skelos, you just reach a tipping point. And we may have reached a tipping point," said Barbara Bartoletti of the League of Women Voters.
Skelos was convicted on eight counts of bribery, which included using his public office to lean on companies to provide income for Adam Skelos.
Even after being indicted last year, the Long Island Republican clung to power, initially refusing to step down as majority leader.
"The very simple reason is that I am innocent. And if you are innocent, there is nothing that you have to run away from. Or hide from," Skelos said in May 2015.
Last month, former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver was sentenced to 12 years in prison for his corruption conviction last year.
Not long ago, Silver, Skelos and Governor Cuomo were once a triumvirate that made all of the key decisions about legislation and how state budget money was allocated. With two of the three now facing prison time, Cuomo is the last man standing, although the same U.S. attorney who convicted Silver and Skelos, Preet Bharara, is now investigating Cuomo's office.
Prosecutors are asking for the Skeloses to receive between 12 and 15 years in prison.
"I have absolute confidence and respect for our judicial system here in the United States of America and utmost respect for our judges and our juries," Skelos said in May 2015.
Albany watchers anticipate a harsh sentence for Skelos, given the climate here, where scandal and new allegations of corruption continue to dominate the conversation.