New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who is fighting federal corruption charges, will be replaced by a state lawmaker next week, a leading daily reported on Tuesday, citing the Democratic lawmakers.
Joseph Morelle, Assemblyman from Rochester-area, will be taking over as interim speaker on Monday, the New York Times reported.
Morelle, the majority leader, is the top pick for succeeding Silver on a permanent basis.
The US lawmakers will be choosing a new leader in an election scheduled for February 10.
“I will not hinder the process. I believe very deeply in the institution,” Silver told media persons while exiting from the capitol in Albany on Tuesday spokesperson quoted him as saying
The announcement over replacement of the new speaker was done after a meeting of Democrats in Albany.
On Sunday, Silver agreed to quit his post and relinquish his duties on a temporary basis as the pressure continued to mount from his fellow Democratic leaders in the Assembly, who were seriously concerned over the criminal charges imposed on him that could potentially impair his ability in conducting duties of one of the most influential positions in New York’s government.
The next speaker will be leading the Democratic-controlled Assembly in the negotiations over budget with Governor Andrew Cuomo and the State Senate, which is controlled by Republican, against a deadline set on April 1.
Meanwhile, the development was neither confirmed by Silver nor Joseph Morelle.
