N.Y. speaker testifies about Las Vegas trip

Michael Gormley

Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2004 | 9:02 a.m.

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver testified behind closed doors Tuesday for nearly three hours to the state Lobbying Commission's staff investigating whether a casino violated gift limits for state lawmakers.

"I answered all of the questions to the best of my ability and I think the commission was happy with my testimony and that's what it was about," Silver said. "I cooperated fully."

Silver refused to say what was discussed in the deposition by the public agency investigating Caesars Entertainment Inc., which has shown interest in operating in New York.

At issue is a trip by Silver and a guest nearly three years ago to Las Vegas. Silver was billed $109 for a suite at Caesars Entertainment's Paris Las Vegas, which is advertised as renting for as much as $1,500 a night.

Silver is not accused of any violation. The casino company is the subject of the probe by the commission that investigates how lobbyists try to influence lawmakers and legislation, according to commission officials.

On Tuesday, Silver and the commission's hired attorney on the case, James Hacker, refused to say if trips by other lawmakers or special rates for lawmakers was discussed in the deposition.

"I don't believe any other lawmakers will be brought in that I know of," Hacker said. "The transcript will speak to that. I feel uncomfortable talking about an ongoing investigation."

Lobbying Commission Executive Director David Grandeau, who led the questioning of Silver, said the investigation just got more involved. After Silver's testimony, the staff will need more time to investigate and will likely postpone a previously scheduled Oct. 13 public session to discuss the case, he said.

Grandeau and Hacker said the decision to keep the deposition private was consistent with the commission's past practice. Grandeau later said the decision was made solely by commission Chairman Joseph Dunn.

Neither Grandeau nor Hacker, both lawyers, however, could cite a law that required the public to be barred from the session

"Whether or not this is to be open or closed is not my call," Hacker said. "I was told it was to be closed. That's it," he told reporters.

"The commission has always conducted these types of depositions in closed session," Grandeau said.

Silver said the trip was made in the post-Sept. 11 period when Las Vegas and other tourist destinations were discounting travel costs and hotel rooms to generate business.

Caesars Entertainment has said that about half of the people staying in those suites at the time paid what Silver paid and that Silver was apparently visiting "for personal reasons."

Caesars Entertainment has been seeking to become a partner in an Indian-sponsored casino in the Catskill Mountains of New York. The casino, closer to New York City than casinos in Atlantic City or Connecticut, could be a big moneymaker for its owners.

Caesars Entertainment is refusing to cooperate with the Lobbying Commission's investigation of its hosting of New York officials. Under state rules, officials cannot receive gifts or other considerations worth more than $75, if the gifts are designed to curry favor with the official receiving them.