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NEW YORK (AP) — The Latest on former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver's sentencing in a $5 million corruption case (all times local):
6 p.m.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says ex-Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver's 12-year prison sentence in a corruption case shows that officials who abuse the public's trust will be held accountable.
Cuomo says "justice was served" by Tuesday's sentencing. Both he and Silver are Democrats.
They represented two of the so-called "three men in a room" who controlled state politics. The third man, Republican former state Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (SKEH'-lohs), faces sentencing later this month on his own corruption conviction.
Cuomo referred to them as the "three amigos" as recently as his State of the State address last year.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara's office prosecuted Silver and Skelos and is also investigating an economic development program run by Cuomo's office. Cuomo's administration is conducting an internal review.
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4:45 p.m.
Former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver says he's looking toward appeals as he left court following his 12-year prison sentence announcement.
The 72-year-old Democrat told reporters outside Manhattan federal court Tuesday that he still believes in the justice system. He says he will pursue all available remedies. That means a three-judge federal appeals panel will be hearing from him soon.
Federal Judge Valerie Caproni told him to report to prison July 1. She says she hopes the sentence sends a message to other politicians that they will face severe penalties if they engage in corruption.
Silver was convicted by a jury last year of making $5 million illegally.
Prosecutors had sought a sentence of more than 14 years while defense attorneys argued for home detention.
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4:20 p.m.
U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara calls the 12-year prison sentence imposed on former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver a "just and fitting end" to a corrupt career.
Bharara made the comment in a statement issued immediately after Manhattan federal Judge Valerie Caproni announced the Democrat's sentence Tuesday.
Caproni also fined the 72-year-old Manhattan resident $1.75 million and added a $5.3 million forfeiture order.
Silver was convicted last year in a $5 million corruption case.
His former Senate counterpart — Republican ex-Majority Leader Dean Skelos — is due to be sentenced this month. Skelos was convicted for using his position to arrange payments and a job for his son.
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3:35 p.m.
Former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has been sentenced to 12 years in prison in a prosecution that exposed corruption of state government at the highest levels.
A stern Judge Valerie Caproni sentenced him Tuesday. It represents a stunning and steep fall for the Manhattan Democrat who was one of New York's three most powerful political figures for two decades.
The 72-year-old lower Manhattan resident was convicted last year in a $5 million corruption case. A jury concluded he traded favors to enrich himself and then lied about it.
His former Senate counterpart — Republic ex-Majority Leader Dean Skelos — is due to be sentenced this month. Skelos was convicted for using his position to arrange payments and a job for his son.
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12:25 a.m.
Former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver will learn his fate following his November conviction in a $5 million corruption case.
Judge Valerie Caproni is scheduled to sentence the Manhattan Democrat on Tuesday.
The government has asked that he serve substantially more than a decade in prison. Prosecutors also want the judge to fine him $1 million. They cite the more than $2 million in assets he has and the fact that he will receive $70,000 in pension for the rest of his life.
The 72-year-old disbarred lawyer was a power broker in the assembly for more than two decades.
In a letter to the judge, he sought leniency, citing his good deeds. He also acknowledged that he "failed" the people of New York and hurt his constituents "terribly."
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