Another crooked Albany politician. What a surprise! Skelos, his deputy, Silver and, hopefully, soon Andy. All unworthy of the public trust but the results of a rigged system that perpetuates this corruption. What happened to the Moreland Commission, Andy? Go get them all Preet!
9
That the young man worked in title insurance seems apt as title insurance itself is a bit of a con. Home buyers buy a product that purports to protect them from a deficiency in land records, but over time, as the same properties are sold and then sold again, shouldn't those records become solid? Nope, never happens, and each buyer has to fork over the money to these scam artists. Canada uses databases - I think you guys invented them - to track title. No insurance needed.
11
Republicans are always attacking the takers. Mr. Skelos, fall on your sword. Resign and leave us all in peace. I'm tired of paying you good public money to work against us, failing as usual, to work in the public interest. You and the rest of the GOP grifters, who along with your entitled and insensitive pronouncements against those who get public money to merely survive, should go.
4
There are numerous examples of parents trying to help their wayward children and in the process cross the line into enabling. It is a very fine line and many times is hard to recognize.
My father did exactly that to my younger brother. My brother got laid off from his job at age 48. He was a functioning alcoholic before that and instead of trying to find another job he sat at home and drank beer and vodka.
After he ran out of money my dad paid all his bills which gave my bother even less (if that was possible) incentive to cut back on his drinking and find a job. Instead he drank even more and died from liver failure at age 56.
My dad had the best of intentions and wanted to help my brother but crossed the line into enabling my brother's self destructive behavior.
My father did exactly that to my younger brother. My brother got laid off from his job at age 48. He was a functioning alcoholic before that and instead of trying to find another job he sat at home and drank beer and vodka.
After he ran out of money my dad paid all his bills which gave my bother even less (if that was possible) incentive to cut back on his drinking and find a job. Instead he drank even more and died from liver failure at age 56.
My dad had the best of intentions and wanted to help my brother but crossed the line into enabling my brother's self destructive behavior.
4
Honest and hard-working sons of hard-working taxpayers are trying desperately to get a job--i.e. mine, who is a graduated mechanical engineer that graduated in May 2013.
Now, I am reading that all someone needs in NYS is the political pull in getting a contract and voila! Your son gets a jobs. Our hard-earned taxpayer dollars at work!
Thank you Preet Bharara, United states attorney for the Southern district of New York for going after these corrupt politicians.
Now, I am reading that all someone needs in NYS is the political pull in getting a contract and voila! Your son gets a jobs. Our hard-earned taxpayer dollars at work!
Thank you Preet Bharara, United states attorney for the Southern district of New York for going after these corrupt politicians.
7
Like father, like son. Chip of the old block. No wonder the chip was always near the block. A rotten apple does not fall far from the rotten tree. He pleads guilty to felony changes but gets a DEAL? to enter an alternatives-to-incarceration program. Guilty but free! And all those poor kids with first time marihuana changes are thrown into jail, condemning them to a life without a future. Injustice at it's worst.
8
While this is a sad story, the Republican Party has become a way of making money for its members.
It is hard to see it as a political party. It is an economic party for the purposes of creating income and wealth for its participants.
When you think of the Koch Brothers, yes, they're big time libertarian ideologues. But they're not interested in preserving the capitalist system, they're position on global warming shows that, they're just interested in making as much money as they can, so that they can be kings of the social system.
All the rest, the Rush Limbauhs, the Ann Coulters, the Bushes, etc. they're all big time hangers on, people who get rich out of being Republican.
While political parties can be expected to defend certain interests, let's say the interests of the wealthy, a lot of the time the Republican Party goes beyond that: it is a sort of industry itself. Its members are crony capitalists who make money not from capital but from being Republicans.
It is hard to see it as a political party. It is an economic party for the purposes of creating income and wealth for its participants.
When you think of the Koch Brothers, yes, they're big time libertarian ideologues. But they're not interested in preserving the capitalist system, they're position on global warming shows that, they're just interested in making as much money as they can, so that they can be kings of the social system.
All the rest, the Rush Limbauhs, the Ann Coulters, the Bushes, etc. they're all big time hangers on, people who get rich out of being Republican.
While political parties can be expected to defend certain interests, let's say the interests of the wealthy, a lot of the time the Republican Party goes beyond that: it is a sort of industry itself. Its members are crony capitalists who make money not from capital but from being Republicans.
9
The second New York State senator indicted on corruption scandals, besides a New Jersey US Senator. What is wrong with the ethics in this part of the country. Yes it is a general statement, but why continuously all these scandals in the government and financial sectors. It is these areas of the country breeding and spreading corruption that affects the country. Should not the revision and laws and entitlements should be implemented
1
A $50,000 gift on a $675,000 mortgage normally would not cut it. Most lenders these days require a 20 percent down payment, at least here in California. So how did a guy who seldom worked afford the remaining $625,000 mortgage?
6
From my recent experience trying to secure a mortgage where my wife and I put down close to 60% of the purchase price I have to think that Adam Skelos must have had some inside help AND other sources of funds to pull this off.
Getting our mortgage approved was a harrowing experience to say the least. Every little detail of our financial lives was scrutinized over and over again. We have 800 FICO scores, more than ample financial assets and income and yet we were put through the ringer. Maybe if we had the family connections that Adam Skelos had we might have had an easier time of it.
Getting our mortgage approved was a harrowing experience to say the least. Every little detail of our financial lives was scrutinized over and over again. We have 800 FICO scores, more than ample financial assets and income and yet we were put through the ringer. Maybe if we had the family connections that Adam Skelos had we might have had an easier time of it.
3
Classic case of loser son being propped up by successful, connected father, This script has been re-enacted dozens of times across the country. What's most egregious that the father never said, "look, I'll help you as much as I can but not at the expense of the public trust". That's where the corruption that is the heart of this case lies. Apparently, Me. Skills seems to think that the public coffers are his to plunder. Based on what I read about corruption in Albany, he may be right.
8
The son is the result of Bad Parenting. No work ethic and continuously bailed out by hid Dad. A shame that a young life is so destroyed by entitlement and greed.
22
When all is said and done these crooks with get a suspended sentence or 18 months in jail because they will only be charged with the benefit they received directly. The law needs to be changed so that politicians are charged as they would for the entire losses their fraud caused the taxpayers.
HOW ABOUT TURNING THE TABLES ON POLS AND USING ASSET FORFEITURE LAWS AGAINST THEM.
HOW ABOUT TURNING THE TABLES ON POLS AND USING ASSET FORFEITURE LAWS AGAINST THEM.
16
What also needs to be looked at is who knew that Adam Skelos was acting as a lobbyist without registering. If you look at the actual complaint (thank you NY Times for providing it), you will see that other legislaturers knew about this.
13
Sad. The maxim, "it's not what you know, it's who you know," taken to the extreme. Unfortunately, you see this all throughout government where there are no term limits. Remember Joe Bruno's daughter's no-show job? If Dean had left the legislature in the 1990's, as he should have, Adam would be tending bar on LI, and we never would have heard of him.
11
Its quite unfortunate that things are ending this way for the Skelos, we however must ask questions of ourselves, what would you do if your only child was in need, and you are in a position to help him?. I know this is not a reason to break the law, but I probably would have done the same thing for my child, but be a little more careful. The boy Adam Skelos is just a looser, he would spoil anything that comes his way even if it was legit.The senator Dean Skelos should have known better, that at some point that his son was a spoiler and undeserving of risky ventures that would involve him personally.
1
I wouldn't have done the same thing for my child, "careful" or not. I think more of my child, care more for my child, and value honor more than to do that. I think most people do.
4
No. It's not a reason to break the law. Most influential parents would just use their influence to get their child a good job, one that he or she might not be able to get on their own. There's nothing illegal about giving your child a leg up. Extortion is something else.
2
radisi, I hope not. Skelos and his son actively conspired to go around the legitimate bid process to force a product on US, at our expense ... making a big payday for his kid. Careful doesn't cut it.
As a former government employee who had occasion to make purchase decisions, mine were always about value and suitability. I never asked for or got anything but satisfaction for doing the right thing.
As a former government employee who had occasion to make purchase decisions, mine were always about value and suitability. I never asked for or got anything but satisfaction for doing the right thing.
3
Does anyone think these clowns will serve more time than someone caught with a kilo of cocaine? Think about who has done more harm to society.
9
In 2009 it appears that Adam Skelos was listed as an account executive at some place called Liberty Title, when the owners were charged with embezzlement. http://libn.com/2009/04/10/shuttered-liberty-title-sued-for-embezzling-f...
9
Thing is another example of a parent living through his child. In this case, the son was troubled so his father worked extra hard to make him a success and therefore himself. Case closed.
1
The apple does not fall far from the tree.
10
No tough love here....
3
It's the arrogance that is maddening - the assumption that they are entitled to a certain lifestyle - the assumption that political success means a guaranteed source of remuneration for life - from the very contributors who got one elected. And look at their faces - there is no shame. A poor black kid can end up dead for avoiding a policemen; a politician's son ends up with sinecures, a house and Mercedes in the driveway.
82
This script is so tedious. Naturally a divorce (where are the family values the conservative/Republicans espouse and criticize the poor and minorities for?), money, power, corrupt use of political influence, poor little rich kid, NY...........
6
We get the kind and quality of politicians that we elect. Democracy is not for a people who want to sleep at the wheel.
6
Taxpayer money, that I worked very hard to earn and trustingly give it to the government just to have the likes of this pair of filthy rats steal and lavish on their own lazy, self indulgent criminal lifestyle. I too believe what has been mentioned many times above that these vulgar thieves will never spend a minute in jail.
I read last weeks article about the little fat bald headed ones' public profession of his complete innocence. "I am an innocent man." Ha, the half of it that he got wrong was that he thinks he is a man.
I read last weeks article about the little fat bald headed ones' public profession of his complete innocence. "I am an innocent man." Ha, the half of it that he got wrong was that he thinks he is a man.
31
Another spoiled brat of politicians who use the office "to serve" themselves. Not in prison for threatening a woman. Just count how many African Americans are in prison for stealing a sandwich or possessing few grams of grass.
55
State Government in Albany is a snake pit.
Dean Skelo's love and support for his son is human and understandable, even if it does cross the line into enabling a troubled and unformed young person who continues to fail the character test.
What is actually less forgivable, and yet typical of Albany is the lifetime terms of office that we seem to give to elected officials. It inevitably corrupts and blocks participation and new talent. Our State officials are a clown car of stink and serial betrayal of the public trust. Hoping that another "prince", Andrew Cuomo, will soon be investigated as well.
Dean Skelo's love and support for his son is human and understandable, even if it does cross the line into enabling a troubled and unformed young person who continues to fail the character test.
What is actually less forgivable, and yet typical of Albany is the lifetime terms of office that we seem to give to elected officials. It inevitably corrupts and blocks participation and new talent. Our State officials are a clown car of stink and serial betrayal of the public trust. Hoping that another "prince", Andrew Cuomo, will soon be investigated as well.
27
So the powerful politician faces conviction, ruin and prison because in the end the one thing he did not and does not have the power to do is to fix his son's broken life, a life of failure. Instead he enabled it and the result is his ruin.
22
"Not a particularly strong student." That speaks volumes, and, when combined with politics, the results are pretty much as expected.
14
Include Matty Libous. Wunderkind. These issuance need to be started on a path that allows them - when confronted with any intimation of following Daddy's path - to conclude: "No, that's not for me." "I'll find my own way, thanks." Then start from the ground up; do your algebra and learn to construct a coherent paragraph. See where that gets you instead.
5
A dim-witted schlub is pulled along in the political wake of his manipulative father. What could go wrong? In this instance, possible prison for both. In another, he became the president of the United States.
79
It is human nature to want to be treated better. When people get power, unless they have developed a very mature ethical understanding, they tend to abuse their power to help their friends. Lobbying is the art of pretending to be that friend. Family have their connections as well. I wonder how many times Senator Skelos has chastised poor people who try to abuse the public programs designed to help them. I wonder if he can draw the connection to what he is accused of doing.
26
So maybe there are a few out there who don't fit this mold. One who comes to mind is Pope Francis (I am not a Catholic), who said on election he would not live in the Papal Palace and then went about trying to root out the old Curia and it's murky incestuous ways, while at the same time speaking up for the poor and chronically disadvantaged of the word. No, he is not perfect but he is the best person I have seen in that position in my lifetime. Maybe all is not lost... yet.
6
Father and son Skelos will look simply stunning in matching prison garb.
9
A Father's Day tale
But for the criminal part
Both of them must pay
But for the criminal part
Both of them must pay
Well said. I'll take this as a father doing the best for his son with neither having any regards for the honesty or consequences of the actions involved.
Really wonder who is running the state and for that matter the country. It appears that our elected political class views governing as a part-time affair with their full-time job being soliciting money and positioning themselves for a well-paying job when their political life ends.
24
Daddy's boy gone bad. Good while it lasted, the fruits of Senator Skelo's corruption. Time to go to jail, good luck.
Another tale from Albany, the sewer that never sleeps.
Another tale from Albany, the sewer that never sleeps.
29
Seems that the primary principle driving most NY politicians into politics is self-enrichment. Their rationale: You'd have to be nutz to run otherwise.
5
"....a father's love for his only child." REALLY? Is helping someone learn how to break the law, defraud the government and abuse one's authority the way one shows love for ANYONE? I actually feel some sympathy for the younger Skelos. Seems to me that he is a VICTIM of the BAD BLOOD IN HIS VEINS. YES I'm going to keep somewhat of an open mind until the trial BUT from all appearances the senior Skelos was a terrible example of what a father should be. What a complete DISGRACE Albany is, isn't it? A real BLIGHT on New York State.....
22
It remains unfathomable to me how Dean Skelos can still receive any support whatsoever from his colleagues in the State Senate unless all are somehow equally tainted. We will, no doubt, be learning much more this year. How it all reeks - and how badly the citizens of New York State are served. And why did Cuomo shut down Moreland? The saga continues.
25
A politically powerful, bully of a father with criminal tendencies and poor social boundaries won't rest until he has ruined his bully, loser son's life along with his own. He finally succeeded. He can ponder his successes while in prison, which won't change he, or his son one iota. You can see it all in the AP photo accompanying this article. The movie should be named "Creepy and Creepier".
19
Had I behaved like this young man when I was his age, society would have forced me to make some changes a whole lot sooner, because my parents would not have been able to protect me from the consequences of my own actions.
37
A powerful father with a failure for a son!
How many books have been written about this exact situation?
How many books have been written about this exact situation?
9
What I find most distressing here is that all the comments are so inclined to convict without one spread of evidence of guilt.
3
If it walks like a duck and squawks like a duck...
Here's a 30 something (what?,,,bum,,,ne'er do well...slug...you name it) who scores a half million dollar mortgage. Hopefully the lender is being asked a few questions.
Here's a 30 something (what?,,,bum,,,ne'er do well...slug...you name it) who scores a half million dollar mortgage. Hopefully the lender is being asked a few questions.
4
read the criminal complaint, which outlines the evidence and includes transcripts of some very damning wiretaps.
1
I don't think that a "simple and profound" father's love is the reason that Dean Skelos protected his son as he did. It's more like egotism, false pride, and an inability to teach right from wrong which justified bailing out a son like Adam Skelos.
41
Crooks and liars- like father like son.
11
A father's love and concern for his own child is no reason to go to prison. Granted he may have used his position to get his kid a job but that is the way of life. Ask George H.W. Bush
9
Please save the "love." Dean's a dysfunctional crook, and his son has reaped the benefit.
31
I'm a conservative, generally because I think it is wiser to conserve money and natural resources rather than squander them. If these allegations turn out to be true, I want this guy fried. Put him in prison as long as possible to discourage others who think it's OK to steal money from hard working tax-payers because "it's only just a little" and "I'm helping my kid." Skelos and Silver need to be made examples of.
28
I've never seen a world where modern "conservatives" seek to conserve natural resources. To the contrary, they believe that our natural resources are here to exploit for monetary gain without thought about future consequences. We did it with oil and now with natural gas. Meanwhile "conservatives" block any comparable investments in more sustainable energy systems.
14
Unfortunately MOST politicians behave this way. Stop lobbying and ban politicians from becoming lobbyists after office. SEE the problem is they are making the laws so it's the fox guarding the hen house. Until money is taken out of politics(never) this will always be the norm. Same old song.....
34
There are new opportunities to limit government corruption. The Internet provides potential to expose such criminal acts earlier and to ensure that any criminal prosecutions or lawsuits filed are conducted in a transparent manner. I think the problem is that many times the corruption has been going on for decades and a lot of people are drawn into protecting it. Those who don't expose government corruption are often vulnerable because they are essentially being blackmailed, sometimes because they or their children are involved with illegal drugs or prostitution, or because they did something like lie about their job qualifications or cheat on their income taxes.
1
What happened to respect for filial piety?
A guy I went to school with was later convicted of murdering his wife--on Long Island. Soon thereafter, his father was convicted of tampering with the son's jury (evidently, unsuccessfully), and also sent to prison.
Let's cut some slack for fathers who simply want to help their sons. There is no crime without an unacceptable motive.
A guy I went to school with was later convicted of murdering his wife--on Long Island. Soon thereafter, his father was convicted of tampering with the son's jury (evidently, unsuccessfully), and also sent to prison.
Let's cut some slack for fathers who simply want to help their sons. There is no crime without an unacceptable motive.
In his memoir, Les Mots, Jean Paul Sartre said that the best thing that ever happened to him was that his father died before he was born.
3
A Dad helping an inept Son,
Corruptly were benefits won,
What is so amazin',
Is how Dean was brazen,
How flagrantly dark deeds were done.
Corruptly were benefits won,
What is so amazin',
Is how Dean was brazen,
How flagrantly dark deeds were done.
31
It is obscene that as part of his sentencing for intimate partner violence against a female, Skelos was ordered to take part in training for boxing. Who in their right mind would teach a violent criminal additional means of harming women?
144
Perhaps the idea was to give the lad a more appropriate outlet for his aggression, one that also allowed him understand how it feels to be hit, hard, by someone at least as strong as he.
Old school? Of course.
Old school? Of course.
5
Excellent question...one would hope the voters would certainly use this "punishment" to gauge the quality of justice in their municipality.
2
...a CONTROLLED means of harming women. you've got to know how to land those punches if you want to have impact....
yes...it's sarcasm....
yes...it's sarcasm....
4
This is right out of chapter two in Malcolm Graves' book David and Goliath. It is not an advantage being the son of a Mr. Big. This is why so many of us succeed and thrive, and yet those born with a silver spoon are destined to be abject failures in life, morals, and reputation.
15
“Yet those who are born with a silver spoon are destined to be abject failures in life,morals,and reputation.”reputation such such as my father, son of one of the founders of Mount Sinai Hospital, the President of U. J.A. Childcare Federation, etc etc. who grew up on Central Park West,started 1st Grade at Fieldston at 4, completed the University of Pennsylvania at 19,at which point he commenced Harvard Law,also earning a Rabbinical Degree at Yeshiva University,marrying at 20,boarding a 6:59 train to Manhattan every morning to support his wife and five children, returning home, eating dinner quickly,then attending board meeting for a charitable organization 4 nights a week and on Sundays? He was one of the most moral people I have ever known.
My father’s reputation was stellar.
Or did you mean" abject failure in life in as my friend Sharon,also born on Central Park West,who attended Barnard completed her doctoral studies at Columbia, is the married mother of 3, Museum Curator and Senior Consultant at Sotheby’’s,author of several books,who has been written up in the New York Times,
who is also very involved in philanthropy, who offered m the keys to her apartment in Manhattan,when I was displaced by Hurricane Sandy, and is an extremely moral person and phenomenal friend?
It sounds as if you’ve got quite an axe to grind.
My father’s reputation was stellar.
Or did you mean" abject failure in life in as my friend Sharon,also born on Central Park West,who attended Barnard completed her doctoral studies at Columbia, is the married mother of 3, Museum Curator and Senior Consultant at Sotheby’’s,author of several books,who has been written up in the New York Times,
who is also very involved in philanthropy, who offered m the keys to her apartment in Manhattan,when I was displaced by Hurricane Sandy, and is an extremely moral person and phenomenal friend?
It sounds as if you’ve got quite an axe to grind.
2
Among state legislators ... the younger Skelos is known as a mess. The 40 watt bulb... and the record detailed here suggests addiction and behavioral issues that involve women and repetition with a doting father with a marriage that failed. It is a picture that produces behavior that now will bring father and son to jail. Along the way, as Sheldon Silver and his family are charged, there will be effort to offer - to these criminals the opportunity to testify against others.
Think Moreland....
Think Moreland....
46
If I were the Governor of NY State, I would be really concerned about Preet Bharara!
1
If he didn't have a powerful father, he'd be in prison already. And how a felon got a jumbo mortgage is just more luck of the genetic draw. Somebody should forward this on to David Brooks, who was only today extolling the value of political dynasties. Here's the softbwhite underbelly...
106
Understand your feelings, and agree as to Brooks, but just to make the point - the frlony charge was reduced to disorderly conduct per the plea agreement, and that is all that the bank found if it did a search. It's also all that Skelos would have been required to disclose.
We will see what the prosecution offers as evidence, but it sounds as though the father pulled strings over and over again to bail out his troubled son - illegally and, now, with drastic consequences for both. That Skelos could get away with this, apparently for years, speaks volumes about how Albany operates. I wouldn't be surprised to see the whole state legislature marched off in handcuffs.
We will see what the prosecution offers as evidence, but it sounds as though the father pulled strings over and over again to bail out his troubled son - illegally and, now, with drastic consequences for both. That Skelos could get away with this, apparently for years, speaks volumes about how Albany operates. I wouldn't be surprised to see the whole state legislature marched off in handcuffs.
50
An unimpressive loser supported by a dad and able to make his way in the world only by virtue of not actually having to perform. Best of luck in prison.
84
You think either or both will go to prison? LOL
10
As a wise man said long ago, the wheels of justice grind exceedingly slow, but they grind exceedingly fine. The case has not yet gone to trial; the taxpayers will have their turn at justice.
In any case, it has already become difficult to find even one person who would vote to elect Dean Skelos again. And if you could find even half a person who would vote for him at this point, I bet it would be easy to tell which half of the person it was.
In any case, it has already become difficult to find even one person who would vote to elect Dean Skelos again. And if you could find even half a person who would vote for him at this point, I bet it would be easy to tell which half of the person it was.