Dr. Robert Taub, a mesothelioma specialist at Columbia University, got sucked into the Albany ethical abyss and in particular the moneymaking schemes of former New York Assembly Speaker and longtime Overlawyered favorite Sheldon Silver [Bill Hammond, Politico/Capital New York, quotes me] The defense proffered by Silver’s lawyers draws heavily on the idea that look, this is the way New York works [New York Post]:
“It’s impossible, absolutely impossible,” argued defense lawyer Steven Molo, “for a member of the Assembly to … do the job that a person in the Assembly does and not have some sort of conflict of interest.
“That may make you uncomfortable,” he added, “but that is the system New York has chosen, and it is not a crime.”
3 Comments
there were so many bottles of liquor in the bar how can I be blamed for getting sh*t faced?
The lawyers’ comment is very clever, and may point the way to Silver’s defense strategy.
He may argue that “everybody does it.” If he does that he’ll be bringing in lots of people who do not want to come into court and testify, to prove that everybody does it.
Maybe some big names, if he decides to go Full Monty on this.
This is a tactic you’ll see occasionally with politicians that are in trouble. Unless the prosecution is a willing to make a deal with them, they threaten to get everyone in trouble, including their political allies and colleagues.
Just imagine someone standing in the middle of a room which is been splashed with gasoline, holding a match.
[…] fees to Silver for cases in which he did no work. Earlier on the charges against Silver here, here, here (and […]