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Rochester-area Assemblyman Joseph Morelle, the majority
leader and a top pick to succeed Silver on a permanent basis, is
to take over as interim speaker on Monday, the newspaper said.
Lawmakers are to choose a new leader in an election set for Feb.
10.
"I will not hinder the process. I believe very deeply in the
institution," Silver told reporters as he exited the capitol in
Albany late on Tuesday, a spokesman said.
The replacement was announced after a meeting of Democrats in
Albany, the Times said.
Silver agreed on Sunday to relinquish his duties on a temporary
basis amid mounting pressure from his fellow Democrats in the
Assembly, who worried that the criminal charges would impair his
ability to carry out the duties of one of the most powerful
positions in New York's government, the Times reported.
Earlier this month, the 70-year-old Democrat, who has served as
the highest-ranking state assemblyman since 1994, was charged
with pocketing $4 million from bribery and kickback schemes.
Federal prosecutors launched a federal grand jury investigation
of Silver in 2013. At least nine other current or former state
legislators have been criminally charged by U.S. Attorney Preet
Bharara's office since 2009.
Silver, among Albany's most powerful men and speaker of the
state Assembly since 1994, has been a leading voice in Albany
for years of negotiations over state budgets and key
legislation.
Morelle, 57, was first elected to the Assembly in 1990.
The next speaker will lead the Democratic-controlled Assembly in
budget negotiations with Governor Andrew Cuomo and the State
Senate, which is Republican-held, against a April 1 deadline,
the Times said.A representative for Silver did not immediately
provide further details beyond his statement. Representatives
for Joseph Morelle did not immediately return phone messages.
(Reporting by Eric M. Johnson; Editing by Eric Walsh)
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