Prosecutor accuses ex-New York Senate leader of ‘shakedown’

NEW YORK – A prosecutor says a former New York state Senate leader extorted businesses to get jobs for his son where the son didn’t do any work.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas McKay made the accusation on Tuesday at closing arguments at the corruption trail of Dean Skelos (SKEH’-lohs) and his son, Adam.

McKay said the Long Island Republican and his son strong-armed the businesses into funneling hundreds of thousands of dollars to the son through bogus jobs in exchange for the senator’s backing of legislation. He called it a “Skelos family shakedown.”

Dean Skelos testified this week that he was only trying to help his son through tough times. He said there was no quid-pro-quo.

Defence closing arguments could come later Tuesday.