For the second time in a month, one of New York State’s biggest political figures is going on trial in a case brought by a federal prosecutor crusading against corrupt elected officials.
Jury selection begins Monday in Manhattan federal court in the extortion and bribery trial of former Senate leader Dean Skelos and his son, Adam.
Dean Skelos, 67, was the state’s most powerful Republican before his May arrest on charges that he abused his position to make hundreds of thousands of dollars for his 33-year-old son. He stepped down from his leadership post but retained his Senate seat.
The arrests came several months after the U.S. Attorney in Manhattan, Preet Bharara, brought corruption charges against one of the state’s most powerful Democrats, state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. Silver, who quit his leadership post after his arrest, is accused of earning $5 million through extortion and bribery. His trial began two weeks ago.
All three men insist they will be vindicated at trial and are presenting a vigorous defense.
“This is a prosecution that should never have been brought in the first place,” Dean Skelos told reporters after a court hearing Friday.
The Skelos trial is expected to showcase a facet of politics that is more bare knuckles than the evidence that has surfaced in the Silver trial, where jurors are being told that the longtime politician disguised bribes as legal fees.