Your editorial "What now for Mr. Silver?" May 19, regarding the status of the Assembly speaker completely misses the mark.
A decade ago, Sheldon Silver approved a $500,000 taxpayer-funded settlement to protect his former counsel Michael Boxley from public allegations of sexual abuse. Your editorial failed to mention this fact.
Apparently, learning nothing from this sordid episode, Mr. Silver again used the same odorous tactic to protect now-former Assemblyman Vito Lopez from similar allegations. Mr. Silver's actions in the Lopez case amount to a coverup, not a "mistake" as he would have us believe.
His fellow Assembly members have shown no stomach to replace him as speaker. Your editorial board seems to agree. Mr. Silver should finally display some leadership and step down on his own.
Steve Kohn
Albany