A prosecutor says former New York Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos abused his office to line the pockets of his adult son.
Opening statements began Tuesday in the corruption trial of Skelos and his son, Adam. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tatiana Martins told jurors Dean Skelos extorted businesses to win Adam consulting fees and a no-show job that made him $300,000. She said that in exchange, the Long Island Republican backed legislation that helped the businesses.
The father and son say they are innocent. The trial is coinciding with a similar but separate corruption case against one of the state's top Democrats, former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. He has also pleaded not guilty and maintains his innocence.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.
