New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, a force among state Democrats for two decades, has tendered his resignation, effective just before midnight Monday.
The longtime politician submitted his resignation Friday evening, his spokesman told the Associated Press. Silver had faced removal as speaker after the Assembly Democratic Conference agreed earlier this week replace him on Monday.
Silver will continue to keep his elected seat while a bribery investigation takes its course.
Meanwhile, Majority Leader Joseph Morelle — who is among a handful of lawmakers jockeying to take Silver's place — is slated to take over as acting speaker until the conference elects a replacement on Feb. 10.
Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan and Assemblyman Carl Heastie are also in the running.
Sheldon Silver's tenure as speaker of the N.Y. State Assembly will end Monday, Democrats say. A new speaker will be picked Feb. 10.
The Assembly majority leader, Joseph D. Morelle of the Rochester area, will be interim speaker until a new speaker is elected on Feb. 10.
Silver was accused last week of taking about $4 million in kickbacks over the last 10 years.
The complaint, coming from a U.S. attorney under a Democratic president, was unexpected and has thrown a wrench into the legislative session.
Silver was charged last week with several counts related to corruption. A previous version of this post misstated the U.S. attorney's action.