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Retrial of Dean Skelos and Son Adam Begins Tuesday

Newsday

The retrial of former State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and son Adam on federal corruption charges begins Tuesday with jury selection.

The Rockville Centre pair is accused of using Dean Skelos’ position as one of state government’s three most powerful individuals to secure jobs and payments for Adam. In return, Dean Skelos promised to look favorably on legislation desired by those helping his son, according to the indictment.

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“The Supreme Court said everything that a public official does is not something that can be charged under the [bribery] statute,” said Mark M. Lee, a defense attorney at the Blank Rome law firm in Philadelphia, who specializes in corruption cases. “There has to be the formal exercise of government power. . . . Merely arranging a meeting for a potential contributor with nothing more just doesn’t cut it” as an act of bribery or extortion.

"Retrial of Dean Skelos and Son Adam Begins Tuesday," by James T. Madore was published in Newsday on June 19, 2018.