New York City - The powerful leader of New York's state Senate was arrested on Monday, along with his son, in a widening federal corruption probe.
Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, 67, and his son Adam, 32, surrendered at FBI offices in lower Manhattan, after being hit with a raft of conspiracy, extortion and bribery solicitation counts.
The political corruption charges are just the latest to engulf a top politician in New York's state capital, Albany.
Earlier this year, another top legislator, assemblyman Sheldon Silver was forced to step down as speaker, after also being hit with federal corruption charges.
Dean Skelos, a senator representing parts of Long Island since 1984, has led the chamber since 2008.
FBI officials said their probe of father and son dates back to 2010, when the pair are alleged to have conspired to take advantage of the father's influential post to extort those with business before the state.
Among the allegations, Skelos promised “to secure legislation in favor of a major real estate developer,” an FBI statement said.
“Skelos pressured the developer to arrange for his son, Adam, to be paid a commission for work he didn't perform,” the FBI said.
“The developer was further influenced allegedly to arrange for monthly payments to Adam Skelos through an environmental technology company seeking government-funded contracts in New York State.”
Adam Skelos, who reportedly worked as an unofficial lobbyist on behalf of various companies, also “allegedly petitioned his father and other officials to support laws from which he and others would profit.”
All told, “backdoor bribes” funneled to the younger Skelos totaled more than $200 000, the FBI said, vowing to root out the corruption.
“We hold our elected representatives to the highest standards and will continue to root out corruption in all forms and at all levels of government - municipal, state, and federal,” Diego Rodriguez, the FBI's Assistant director in charge at the New York field office, said as he announced the charges.
AFP