New York Today: Another Politician Sentenced

Another New York politician may soon be in bunking in a federal prison.

Sheldon Silver, the former State Assembly speaker, will be sentenced at the federal courthouse in Lower Manhattan today.

The Democrat, whose district included the Lower East Side, was convicted of, among other things, abusing his office to obtain nearly $4 million in illegal payments.

“He was one of the most powerful New York politicians to be convicted in a corruption case in recent years,” said Benjamin Weiser, a reporter covering the case for The Times. “And he could receive one of the highest sentences as well.”

If Mr. Silver lands behind bars, he’ll be in familiar company.

At least six of his colleagues from the New York State Legislature are in the federal prison system.

Mr. Weiser and another Times reporter, Vivian Yee, will be there covering the sentencing, which is to begin at 2 p.m.

They’ll be watching to see if any of Mr. Silver’s supporters turn up at the courthouse.

And what, if anything, he has to say in the courtroom. Especially in light of an emotional written apology he sent to the judge that didn’t address the facts of the case or the verdict.

“It’s a very narrow line to walk — not admitting guilt and profusely apologizing for what you did,” Mr. Weiser said.

If you miss the sentencing of this former politician, don’t fret.

John L. Sampson, a Senate Democrat, and Dean G. Skelos, the former Republican Senate majority leader, are scheduled to be sentenced this month.