Former New York state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver faces arraignment on bribery charges after stepping down from his role as one of the state's foremost political powerbrokers.
The Democrat is due Tuesday in Manhattan federal court. He has said has said he's confident he will be vindicated.
Silver denies charges of exploiting his outsize influence to collect nearly $4 million from law firms while doing such favors as lining up state grants that helped a firm's business. Prosecutors say he did no legal work for the money.
During more than 20 years as Assembly speaker, Silver played a major part in creating state budgets and policies.
Although he resigned as speaker after his arrest, he retains the assembly seat he has held for nearly 40 years.
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