It’s been quite a busy week for felonious lawmakers in New York. First, the state Senate’s number 2 Republican was convicted of lying to the FBI about getting a high-paying job for his son. Now, the former Senate leader for the Democrats between 2009 and 2013 has also been convicted of lying to federal agents.
Via Democrat & Chronicle:
Sen. John Sampson, D-Brooklyn, was found guilty Friday of two counts of lying to federal agents and one count of obstruction of justice, both of which were related to an alleged embezzlement scheme. He was found not guilty on six other counts, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office for New York’s eastern district.
Sampson was Senate Democratic leader from 2009 through 2013. He, along with former Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith, D-Queens, led the Senate during the Democrats’ turbulent two-year stretch in the majority in 2009 and 2010.
…
Sampson’s ouster follows the conviction Wednesday of Senate Deputy Majority Leader Thomas Libous, R-Binghamton, who was found guilty of lying to the FBI and forced to surrender his seat.
Smith was sentenced to 7 years in prison for trying to bribe his way onto the New York City Republican mayoral ballot.
Sampson, like Libous, has automatically been expelled from the Senate due to the felony convictions, and faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. The pair join an illustrious group of over two dozen lawmakers who have been arrested or convicted by authorities since 2008.
It is why a museum of political corruption is being considered in Albany.
@allionthemove@NYSenate it’s time to build The Museum of Political Corruption! “A museum built on convictions!”
— Museum of Corruption (@CorruptMuseum) July 24, 2015
We’re not kidding.