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Report: New York Senate Leader Dean Skelos, Son, Facing Arrest

Skelos

Dean G. Skelos, the Republican majority leader of the New York State Senate, and his son are expected to be arrested on federal corruption charges. The New York Times reports the arrests could come as early as next week.

Skelos and his son Adam have reportedly been at the center of a federal inquiry on business dealings.

The arrests would come about three months after Democratic Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver was accused of allegedly receiving unlawful kickbacks. The scandal led Silver to step down as speaker.

According to New York Times sources, who spoke to the paper on condition of anonymity, the office of U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara had been presenting evidence to a grand jury for weeks.

If Skelos is forced to step down it could create headaches for Senate Republicans to find a new leader.

“Really, the larger question is whether Dean Skelos will have to step down as Shelly Silver stepped down,” said WAMC’s political observer Dr. Alan Chartock. “Mr. Libous, who is Mr. Skelos’ number two, is already under federal indictment and is very, very sick. So that opens things up in the Senate, which will be extremely problematic for getting business done for the rest of the session.”

Lucas Willard is a reporter and host at WAMC Northeast Public Radio, which he joined in 2011.
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