New York Senate Leader Arrested On Corruption Charges
New York Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos was arrested on Monday on six criminal counts of corruption, along with his son, Adam Skelos, The New York Times reported.
In the 43-page complaint, Republican Senator Dean Skelos is being accused of using his position to give the edge to environmental company, AbTech Industries, as well as Glenwood Management. Allegedly, Skelos did so under the agreement that his son would benefit financially, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Dean Skelos said about the charges,
“I know that I will be found not only not guilty but innocent… I have absolute confidence and respect for our judicial system here in the United States of America, and utmost respect for our judges and other juries. And that’s why I will be found innocent and my son will [too],”
The United States attorney for the Southern District of New York, Preet Bharara just a few months earlier charged Assemblyman Sheldon Silver on bribery charges, as reported by The Inquisitr. Silver, a Democrat, was forced to step down from his speaker position because of the charges.
Bharara said about the charges,
“Dean Skelos’ support for certain infrastructure projects and legislation was often based not on what was good for his constituents or good for New York, but rather on what was good for his son’s bank account,”
Bharara has been on a campaign to end corruption in Albany. In 2014, Bharara launched an investigation to find out why New York Governor Andrew Cuomo ended a commission to reform the New York government.
The attorney for Adam Skelos, Christopher Conniff said about the client,
“Adam Skelos is not guilty of these charges and looks forward to fighting them in the courtroom.”
A federal investigation has been focused on Adam Skelos’ business dealings. The dealings included payments to Skelos by AbTech over the span of several years.
Spokesperson for AbTech Industries, Lisa Linden said,
“AbTech is cooperating and will continue to cooperate with federal authorities. Today’s charges do not detract in any way from AbTech’s innovative work and the unique, environmentally-beneficial solutions it provides to protect our water resources.”
AbTech sells filters for storm water. The company is based out of Arizona. AbTech say that they received their contract appropriately.
“The process through which local authorities selected AbTech was comprehensive and diligent, involving several levels of Nassau County government. AbTech is proud… to have earned this contract after a thorough and fair review process conducted by Nassau County.”
According to charges, Senator Skelos forced Glenwood to give commissions to his son getting him nearly $200,000 from AbTech. The Skelos’ have each been charged with two counts of extortion and two counts of bribes and gratuities. The Skelos’ have also been charged with conspiracy to commit extortion and conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud.
[Photo: Twitter]
