How did Sheldon Silver die? Ex NY speaker, 77, dies while in prison for fraud
Former New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has passed away on January 24, 2022, it has been confirmed. The 77-year-old was one year into a six-and-a-half-year sentence after being found guilty of bribery in 2015. He, however, began serving his sentence only in August 2020, after several successful appeals.
Once one of the most powerful officials in the state, Silver's political career collapsed in 2015 after allegations of bribery. He was later found guilty of supporting legislation that would benefit his real estate developer friends, in return for business to a law firm that employed him, allowing him to collect around $4 million in fees. Before that though, the Democrat spent two decades as the Speaker in his 40-year-long career.
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The scandal remained a major black mark on the party for a long time in the state, only succeeded very recently by former Governor Andrew Cuomo's sexual harassment scandal. At the time of his sentencing, Silver reportedly told the judge he hoped he would not die in prison, but tragically it appears that is exactly what happened.
How did Sheldon Silver die?
According to reports, Silver died at the Nashoba Valley Medical Center, where he was being treated for cancer. At the time of his sentencing, Silver was reportedly facing multiple health issues including kidney disease and cancer, which he used to ask for leniency and house arrest. However, a judge refused, saying a "nonjail sentence is simply not appropriate." He was then incarcerated at the Devens Federal Medical Center, a specialized center for inmates requiring medical care in Middlesex, Massachusetts.
However, it appears that Silver's hopes of surviving incarceration have not been met. The Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed on January 24 that Silver died, but did not confirm what exactly was the cause of death. He is survived by his wife Rosa, four adult children, and a large number of grandchildren.
Several leading politicians have since sent out condolence messages, acknowledging Silver's role in reshaping New York's politics. While his career was always filled with scandal, Silver was widely known for pushing for a higher minimum wage, fair housing, and other key legislations that have come to become standard in the state. Democratic Assemblyman Charles D. Lavine told The New York Times, "He some wonderful things for our state," while adding he also "brought shame on our state and on his name."
State Rep. Richard Gottfried also mourned Silver's death, telling The Times, "I was always struck by how strong his personal beliefs in progressive causes were. It’s a tragedy that those achievements have been overshadowed by his criminal record. I don’t think anyone in Albany had any inkling of the things that came out in his criminal case." During his long and storied career, Silver served in the Assembly during the tenure of five New York governors - from Mario Cuomo to Andrew Cuomo.
It is perhaps ironic that Cuomo's career too should have ended in scandal after Silver and Former state Senate majority leader Dean Skelos' did. Together, the trio was dubbed the "three men in the room," making all the major decisions over the past decade in Albany. So far, Silver's family has not commented on the news, nor have other close allies like Cuomo and Senator Chuck Schumer.