(DNAINFO)  Irene Plagianos | November 3, 2015 — MANHATTAN FEDERAL COURT — “Greed, power and corruption” are at the heart of the case against former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, federal prosecutors said Tuesday during opening arguments in the trial.

Silver, 71, once one of New York’s most powerful politicians, is facing fraud charges related to an extensive bribery scheme that gave him $4 million in kickbacks over several years, disguised as legitimate payments from two law firms.

The embattled assemblyman, who has represented Lower Manhattan for 40 years, was indicted in February on charges of wire fraud, mail fraud and extortion.

“He picked the people’s pocket to line his own,” said federal prosecutor Carrie Cohen.

Source: Sheldon Silver ‘Abused Power,’ Prosecutors Say as Trial Begins – Civic Center – DNAinfo.com New York