FBI Arrests NY Assembly Speaker

An FBI spokesman says New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, one of the most powerful politicians in the state, has been arrested. The spokesman, Peter Donald, says Silver was taken into custody around 8am today. Donald declined to discuss the charges Silver is facing, though feds last month were investigating extracurricular income Silver allegedly made from a legal firm. The US attorney's office is expected to discuss the case later today, and Silver is expected in court.

Silver is a Democrat from Manhattan's Lower East Side and a longtime leader of the Assembly's Democratic majority. The arrest comes just a day after Silver shared the stage with Gov. Andrew Cuomo during his State of the State address. US Attorney Preet Bharara took over the files of New York's Moreland anti-corruption commission after Cuomo closed it in April. He said in October that investigations into Albany's pay-to-play politics are continuing.