Bill de Blasio has defended New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, describing him as a 'man of integrity'. The New York City Mayor made his remark after Silver, one of the state's most powerful politicians, was charged on Thursday with pocketing $4million from bribery and kickback schemes and faced pressure to quit. De . Blasio said he did not think Silver should step down, citing . his 'due process rights.' Scroll down for video . Bill de Blasio (left) has defended New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (right), describing him as a 'man of integrity' 'In my experience with Shelly Silver, I've seen integrity . and public service,' de Blasio told reporters, according to a . transcript released by his office. Silver, a Democrat who has served as the highest-ranking . state assemblyman since 1994, was accused in a federal criminal . complaint in New York, as authorities moved to seize $3.8 . million in proceeds tied to the alleged corruption. The 70-year-old Silver, a licensed lawyer who represents . Manhattan's Lower East Side, is known as one of Albany's three . most powerful men, alongside Governor Andrew Cuomo and Senate . Majority Leader Dean Skelos. He has been a leading voice in . years of negotiations over state budgets and key legislation. The Assembly canceled its Thursday session following . Silver's arrest, less than two weeks after the new legislative . session opened. Silver would lose his seat if convicted of any of five . felony counts and faces a maximum of 20 years of prison on each . count. He became the latest addition to a long line of New York . politicians implicated in corruption scandals. At least 30 New . York politicians have faced legal or ethics charges since 2000. 'As today's charges make clear, the show-me-the-money . culture of Albany has been perpetuated and promoted at the very . top of the political food chain,' Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet . Bharara told reporters. Silver (center), one of the state's most powerful politicians, was charged on Thursday with pocketing $4million from bribery and kickback schemes and faced pressure to quit . At a brief court appearance on Thursday afternoon, a judge . released Silver on a $200,000 bond. Asked for a comment outside the courtroom, he said, 'I am . confident that after a full hearing and due process I will be . vindicated for these charges.' Despite some calls for Silver's resignation, Albany . Democrats emerged from a private meeting on Thursday to declare . their support for him, with Assembly Majority Leader Joseph . Morelle saying the members 'overwhelmingly' stood behind Silver. Cuomo has not commented on the arrest, but said in an . interview with the New York Daily News that it was 'a bad . reflection on government,' adding that he didn't know enough to . form a judgment about the case. In 2013, Cuomo launched an anticorruption panel called the . Moreland Commission to probe wrongdoing in the state's capital. But he abruptly shut the commission down in March, drawing . criticism from Bharara, whose office took possession of its . files to continue any investigations. The commission's work was merged with an ongoing federal . probe of Silver's outside income initiated in June 2013, the . criminal complaint said. Silver had long listed New York personal injury firm Weitz & . Luxenberg on his financial disclosure forms as a source of . income for representing its clients in cases. But the complaint said over $3 million of his income was for . referring asbestos sufferers from a doctor whose research had . been secretly provided $500,000 in state funds at Silver's . direction, as well as other benefits. New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (center) is seen in federal court with his attorneys Joel Cohen (left) and Steven Molo . Prosecutors said Silver also received $700,000 in kickbacks . by steering real estate developers with business before the . legislature to another law firm, identified by its defense . lawyer as Goldberg & Iryami. 'He simply sat back and collected millions of dollars by . cashing in on his political office,' Bharara said. Weitz & Luxenberg in a statement said it had cooperated with . the investigation and was 'not aware of any improprieties . whatsoever.' Michael Ross, a lawyer for Goldberg & Iryami, . declined comment on the allegations. The complaint did not name the doctor but said he had . created a mesothelioma research center at a New York university . hospital. Details in the complaint match those of Robert Taub, a . professor at Columbia University. In 2011, the assembly passed a . resolution, sponsored by Silver, honoring Taub for his . contributions to mesothelioma treatment. A spokesman for Columbia said it had no knowledge of the . allegations and will cooperate with the investigation. Taub did . not respond to a request for comment. After surrendering to authorities in lower Manhattan at . about 8 a.m., a somber-looking Silver headed to nearby federal . court, wearing a dark suit and a black hat, his car mobbed by . reporters and photographers. 'It is unfortunate that the prosecutors chose to pursue this . as a criminal case,' Silver's attorney, Steven Molo, said by . email. 'We intend to vigorously contest the charges and Mr. Silver looks forward to his day in court.' Silver's longtime Senate counterpart, Joseph Bruno, was . acquitted in May at a retrial on bribery charges. One of Silver's predecessors as speaker, Mel Miller, was . convicted of corruption in the early 1990s, but the conviction . was overturned by a federal appeals court. Two former state Senate Democratic leaders, John Sampson and . Malcolm Smith, are also facing criminal charges.
Bill de Blasio said he did not think Sheldon Silver should step down .
Silver was accused of pocketing $4m from bribery and kickback schemes .
The 70-year-old is known as one of Albany's three most powerful men .
Bill de Blasio has defended New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, describing him as a 'man of integrity'. The New York City Mayor made his remark after Silver, one of the state's most powerful politicians, was charged on Thursday with pocketing $4million from bribery and kickback schemes and faced pressure to quit. De . Blasio said he did not think Silver should step down, citing . his 'due process rights.' Scroll down for video . Bill de Blasio (left) has defended New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (right), describing him as a 'man of integrity' 'In my experience with Shelly Silver, I've seen integrity . and public service,' de Blasio told reporters, according to a . transcript released by his office. Silver, a Democrat who has served as the highest-ranking . state assemblyman since 1994, was accused in a federal criminal . complaint in New York, as authorities moved to seize $3.8 . million in proceeds tied to the alleged corruption. The 70-year-old Silver, a licensed lawyer who represents . Manhattan's Lower East Side, is known as one of Albany's three . most powerful men, alongside Governor Andrew Cuomo and Senate . Majority Leader Dean Skelos. He has been a leading voice in . years of negotiations over state budgets and key legislation. The Assembly canceled its Thursday session following . Silver's arrest, less than two weeks after the new legislative . session opened. Silver would lose his seat if convicted of any of five . felony counts and faces a maximum of 20 years of prison on each . count. He became the latest addition to a long line of New York . politicians implicated in corruption scandals. At least 30 New . York politicians have faced legal or ethics charges since 2000. 'As today's charges make clear, the show-me-the-money . culture of Albany has been perpetuated and promoted at the very . top of the political food chain,' Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet . Bharara told reporters. Silver (center), one of the state's most powerful politicians, was charged on Thursday with pocketing $4million from bribery and kickback schemes and faced pressure to quit . At a brief court appearance on Thursday afternoon, a judge . released Silver on a $200,000 bond. Asked for a comment outside the courtroom, he said, 'I am . confident that after a full hearing and due process I will be . vindicated for these charges.' Despite some calls for Silver's resignation, Albany . Democrats emerged from a private meeting on Thursday to declare . their support for him, with Assembly Majority Leader Joseph . Morelle saying the members 'overwhelmingly' stood behind Silver. Cuomo has not commented on the arrest, but said in an . interview with the New York Daily News that it was 'a bad . reflection on government,' adding that he didn't know enough to . form a judgment about the case. In 2013, Cuomo launched an anticorruption panel called the . Moreland Commission to probe wrongdoing in the state's capital. But he abruptly shut the commission down in March, drawing . criticism from Bharara, whose office took possession of its . files to continue any investigations. The commission's work was merged with an ongoing federal . probe of Silver's outside income initiated in June 2013, the . criminal complaint said. Silver had long listed New York personal injury firm Weitz & . Luxenberg on his financial disclosure forms as a source of . income for representing its clients in cases. But the complaint said over $3 million of his income was for . referring asbestos sufferers from a doctor whose research had . been secretly provided $500,000 in state funds at Silver's . direction, as well as other benefits. New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (center) is seen in federal court with his attorneys Joel Cohen (left) and Steven Molo . Prosecutors said Silver also received $700,000 in kickbacks . by steering real estate developers with business before the . legislature to another law firm, identified by its defense . lawyer as Goldberg & Iryami. 'He simply sat back and collected millions of dollars by . cashing in on his political office,' Bharara said. Weitz & Luxenberg in a statement said it had cooperated with . the investigation and was 'not aware of any improprieties . whatsoever.' Michael Ross, a lawyer for Goldberg & Iryami, . declined comment on the allegations. The complaint did not name the doctor but said he had . created a mesothelioma research center at a New York university . hospital. Details in the complaint match those of Robert Taub, a . professor at Columbia University. In 2011, the assembly passed a . resolution, sponsored by Silver, honoring Taub for his . contributions to mesothelioma treatment. A spokesman for Columbia said it had no knowledge of the . allegations and will cooperate with the investigation. Taub did . not respond to a request for comment. After surrendering to authorities in lower Manhattan at . about 8 a.m., a somber-looking Silver headed to nearby federal . court, wearing a dark suit and a black hat, his car mobbed by . reporters and photographers. 'It is unfortunate that the prosecutors chose to pursue this . as a criminal case,' Silver's attorney, Steven Molo, said by . email. 'We intend to vigorously contest the charges and Mr. Silver looks forward to his day in court.' Silver's longtime Senate counterpart, Joseph Bruno, was . acquitted in May at a retrial on bribery charges. One of Silver's predecessors as speaker, Mel Miller, was . convicted of corruption in the early 1990s, but the conviction . was overturned by a federal appeals court. Two former state Senate Democratic leaders, John Sampson and . Malcolm Smith, are also facing criminal charges.
with pocketing $4million from bribery and Blasio said he did not think Silver should step down for video . Bill de Blasio (left) has Lower East Side, is known as one of Albany's three . most powerful men, alongside Governor and kickback schemes and faced pressure to quit .