The NY Post editorializes that Silence is Silver:
The silence up at the state capital over the arrest on rape charges of Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver's chief counsel is troubling, though predictable.I guess Sheldon isn't too imaginative. I can think of several permanent solutions.
J. Michael Boxley, arguably Silver's most powerful staffer, is charged with raping a 22-year-old Assembly aide Tuesday morning after he agreed to drive her home from a night out in Albany bars.
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But Speaker Silver can't even pronounce himself the least bit concerned over the possibility that a violent assault occurred.
In fact, Silver yesterday labeled the alleged incident "unfortunate for everybody involved" - presumably, Boxley is weighing as heavily on the speaker's mind as is the alleged victim. If not more so.
Apart from state Sen. Tom Duane, a Manhattan Democrat, nobody else in the Capitol is talking.
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Of course, people are whispering: Assembly Democrats are telling sordid tales about the alleged victim - doing their best to ruin her reputation.
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And it's not like this is Boxley's first time around the block.
Two years ago, another young legislative aide, Elizabeth Crothers, accused Boxley of raping her under disturbingly similar circumstances.
She never filed a criminal complaint, saying she didn't have the stomach for a long, drawn-out legal process.
That is to say, she feared she'd be slimed by Silver & Co.
Instead, she filed an administrative complaint with the Silver-controlled Assembly, which handled - and dismissed - the matter behind closed doors.
According to the woman, Silver - who publicly expressed his complete support for Boxley's integrity and character - told her privately that his solution for Boxley's "improprieties" was that he would no longer be allowed to go out drinking at bars.
