Convicted of Corruption, but Still Getting a Pension

By DAVID BUCHWALD JAN. 25, 2016

IN New York State, both the former Assembly speaker Sheldon Silver and the former Senate majority leader Dean Skelos have recently been tried and convicted on numerous federal charges of corruption. They share another distinction: Since their trials, they have both applied for their state pensions. Sadly, they have every right to do so.

Under current law in New York, a former public official sitting in prison for a felony conviction for misconduct in office can still receive his or her pension checks. In the cases of Mr. Silver and Mr. Skelos, those payouts could easily total millions of dollars each.

David Buchwald is a Democratic New York State assemblyman representing District 93 in Westchester County.