Feds Investigating Powerful NY Dem Sheldon Silver

Federal authorities are investigating New York state's powerful Assembly Speaker, Sheldon Silver, over payments he received from a New York City law firm, The New York Times reports.

According to the Times, FBI agents and prosecutors with U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara's office found the law firm, Goldberg & Iryami, paid the Democratic politician money he allegedly did not officially disclose.

The small law firm looks for real estate tax reductions for commercial and residential properties in New York City, The Times notes.

Part-time work by legislators has often come under scrutiny of federal investigators because corrupt lawmakers have used payments for apparent part-time work to mask political payoffs, the Times reports. Such work has also been a concern of watchdog groups because of the potential for conflicts of interest, The Times notes.

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