After indicted lawmaker seeks dismissal, due to US attorney's remarks, Bharara dials it down
Initially, after a longtime New York legislative leader was arrested on corruption charges, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara made a number of public comments about Assemblyman Sheldon Silver’s case.
But since Silver challenged his federal indictment, contending that Bharara’s comments may have prejudiced grand jurors, the U.S. attorney has maintained a lower profile about the Manhattan case, reports the New York Times (reg. req.).
In a Friday speech at Fordham University School of Law, Bharara spoke generally about the importance of pursuing corruption charges against state lawmakers but said little that was specific to Silver, according to the Times and the Associated Press. A law professor who introduced Bharara told the audience the prosecutor couldn’t comment on any pending cases.
A spokesman for Bharara declined to comment when asked by the Times whether Silver’s challenge to his indictment inspired Bharara to say less about the Assemblyman as the U.S. attorney gave the keynote speech at a symposium on Fighting Corruption in America and Abroad.”
A federal judge overseeing Silver’s case hasn’t yet decided whether to grant his motion to dismiss the indictment.
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Top lawmaker says US attorney created ‘media firestorm,’ asks federal judge to nix indictment”
New York Daily News: “Preet Bharara’s comments on Sheldon Silver’s alleged corruption were within the law: prosecutors”
New York Daily News: “Professor critical of Preet Bharara’s behavior after Sheldon Silver arrest is friends with former speaker’s lawyer”
