Prosecutors have asked a judge to send former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to prison for over a decade while his defense lawyers say he deserves little or no time behind bars.
The arguments were made in submissions Wednesday in Manhattan federal court. The Democrat was convicted last year of abusing his office to earn $5 million illegally. He is scheduled to be sentenced May 3.
In their written submission, prosecutors urged Judge Valerie Caproni to send the 72-year-old Silver to prison for substantially longer than the 10 years recommended by the court's Probation Office. They also urged the sentence be longer than any imposed on other New York State legislators convicted of corruption charges.
Defense lawyers wrote that Silver's age, health and record of service call for leniency.
© 2016 AP
