Skelos: I Fully Expect To Be Exonerated

Confident despite charges leveled against him, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos said he expected to be cleared of any wrongdoing. The leader of the New York Senate turned himself in to the FBI Monday.

Dean Skelos, 67, and his 32-year-old son, Adam, both of Long Island, were ordered after a brief appearance in front of a magistrate judge to turn over their passports and were released.

“I am innocent of the charges leveled against me. I am not saying I am just not guilty, I am saying that I am innocent. I fully expect to be exonerated by a public jury trial,” Skelos said.

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said, “Let me emphasize at the outset that these are only charges,” he said. “The complaint contains allegations only, and both defendants are absolutely presumed innocent unless and until those allegations are proven beyond a reasonable doubt, which is what we intend to do.”

Some legal experts expressed doubt whether the charges would stick.

In a conversation with Hamodia on Monday, State Senator Simcha Felder said he strongly supports Mr. Skelos retaining his leadership position.

“I don’t know what will be decided, but that would be the right thing to do. We live in the most wonderful country in the world, where you’re presumed innocent unless proven guilty,” Mr. Felder said.

“His people love him; his members love him,” he added.

This article appeared in print on page 5 of the May 5th, 2015 edition of Hamodia.