State Assembly Democrats back Sheldon Silver amid calls for accused speaker's resignation

The New York Daily News reports:

State Assembly Democrats closed ranks behind Speaker Sheldon Silver on Thursday amid scattered calls for him to step aside over bombshell allegations of corruption.

In Albany, Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Morelle (D-Rochester) emerged from a 90-minute party huddle to say his conference agreed “that there is a presumption of innocence, and we have every confidence that the speaker is going to continue to fulfill his role with distinction.”

Democratic Erie County Assemblyman Robin Schimminger said a Silver bow-out “would be chaos” for the chamber.

“I don’t see that as an option for the institution,” he said.

The great moments of the Democrat party.