NY Assembly speaker Sheldon Silver to vacate post amid criminal charges
ALBANY — Sheldon Silver, the longtime leader of the New York state Assembly, will relinquish the position he has held for 21 years in the wake of federal corruption charges, a top lawmaker announced Tuesday.
The decision announced by Majority Leader Joseph Morelle came after Democratic lawmakers met behind closed doors for two days to discuss their response to the turmoil that has threatened one of the longest careers in American state politics.
“He said to me he will not impede the transition,” said Morelle, surrounded by most of the other 105 Assembly Democrats. “We’ll have a vacancy on Monday.”