Former state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver was indicted Thursday in Manhattan federal court on three charges stemming from his arrest for bribery last month, according to an Associated Press report.
Silver was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury on charges of honest services mail fraud, honest services wire fraud and extortion under the color of his official duties, the wire reported.
The AP reported Silver’s lawyers, Joel Cohen and Steven Molo, said they will “fight for his total vindiction.”
Silver, the Assembly speaker for more than 20 years, last month told reporters he is confident he will be exonerated.
Silver has been accused of receiving nearly $4 million in bribes and kickback payments through a scheme involving his law firm Weitz & Luxenberg. He is alleged to have used his position as speaker to issue state grants to a physician who referred personal injury patients to the firm, which retained Silver as counsel.
U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara later told reporters the corruption charges against Silver “go to the very core of a failed Albany.” The prosecutor has also been critical of the state’s budgetary negotiation process, which typically includes the governor, Assembly speaker and state Senate majority leader.
Silver announced he would step down as speaker on Jan. 30. His resignation as speaker took effect on Feb. 2.
Silver was replaced as Speaker by Assemblyman Carl Heastie (D-Bronx).
