Senate Leader Dean Skelos has resigned his post, over a corruption scandal, and Republicans have elected Senator John Flanagan, currently chair of the Education Committee, to be his successor as Majority Leader in the New York state Senate.
He becomes the latest leader to lose his power in a state government marred by corruption.
The Long Island Republican is stepping down as majority leader but will keep his legislative seat while he fights charges that he extorted payments for his son, Adam, from two businesses.
Both men say they are innocent. Sen. John Flanagan of Long Island has won a contest against Syracuse-area Sen. John DeFrancisco to replace Skelos.
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