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Former New York State Assembly speaker Sheldon Silver was sentenced Tuesday to 12 years in prison in a federal corruption case that prosecutors said “struck at the core of democratic governance” and polluted the institution where he wielded immense power.
Silver, 72, was convicted last year of taking millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks in exchange for various official favors. According to prosecutors, Silver, a lawyer, persuaded a doctor to pass on “valuable leads to unrepresented patients with mesothelioma,” and in return, gave the doctor state grants for research. He also took official actions to help real estate developers that gave business to a law firm that then sent Silver kickbacks, prosecutors said.