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Matthew Cavanaugh/Getty Images [file][/caption]Former New York state Senate majority leader Dean Skelos and his son, Adam, have been found guilty of eight counts following a lengthy trial in federal court in New York City.

The father and son had been charged with extortion, bribery and conspiracy. The allegations focused on payments made to Adam Skelos and a no-show job he received.

Prosecutors played secretly-recorded telephone calls featuring the voices of both men. Many emails between the defendants and others were introduced as evidence.

With the felony conviction, Skelos forfeited his Senate seat. That happened last July when Thomas Libous was found guility of lying to the FBI. Libous, a Binghamton Republican, had been deputy majority leader.

Late last month, former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver also was convicted in a federal corruption trial in Manhattan.

Dean and Adam Skelos are scheduled to be sentenced in March.


Less than 27 hours earlier, Bharara took to Twitter for the first time with what many perceived to be an ominous message:

That remarkable "tease" tweet was sent as Governor Andrew Cuomo was presiding over the announcement of economic development awards at an Albany ceremony. There have been persistent reports that Bharara has been investigating Cuomo and his staffers. Bharara has not indicated whether he and his investigators now are focusing on the governor.
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