Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver called the allegations against his conference member, Brooklyn Assemblyman William Boyland Jr., “totally, totally unacceptable” and “deplorable,” adding: “I hope that the criminal justice system will deal with them to the fullest extent of the law.”

Asked if he might seek to punish Boyland internally (according to the assemblyman’s bio, he’s serving as chair of the Subcommittee on Senior Outreach and Activities, which I’m not sure carries a lulu), Silver replied:

“I think the criminal justice system right now is dealing with the issue and let’s see what comes from that.”

Silver reiterated that the Assembly and the governor are in “virtual agreement” on an ethics reform bill and he’s still holding out hope on a three-way agreement in which the Senate would participate.

As for what this latest round of charges does to further deteriorate the image of the Legislature (although how much lower it could sink in the court of public opinion, I’m not so sure), the speaker said:

“I would just say to you that the state Legislature, both sides of the aisle, are made up of hardworking men and women who represent their constituents.”

“As in any field, there are a few bad apples, OK? And I think, not only I think, ultimately they get caught, violate the law and there is full prosecution and that’s what should take place here, and the fullest extent of the law should be nothing but that in these cases.”

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