 New York City’s Most Corrupt Politicians
The Big Apple has been embroiled in corruption since the past few decades. Similar to most of the major cities in the world, New York has it’s own notorious history in corruption.
During recent times, the city had numerous high-profile cases involving corrupt politicians.  New York is a hotspot for corruption scandals, many of which result in the misuse of taxpayer money or the erosion of public trust.
In this article, we will explore the political corruption by nine of the most corrupt politicians of New York City.
1. Governor Andrew Cuomo
Andrew Cuomo has had his share of controversies and scandals throughout his career as the 56th governor of New York.
Issues like the Buffalo Billion Scandal, COVID-19 nursing home deaths, Sexual Harassment Allegations and the Book Deal Controversy finally ended in Cuomo’s resignation from office on August 24, 2021.
The former governor denied all allegations several times. Despite investigations by the office of the general attorney, Cuomo was never charged .
2. Joseph Bruno
Joseph Bruno served as the New York State Majority Leader from 1994 to 2008. He resigned from office in 2008 and was convicted on two felony counts. and Also Joseph Bruno aquitted Fraud in Rental.
It was found that he used his political position to benefit companies he was consulting for. The Supreme Court overturned his conviction. It later ended in acquittal.
But his political career has already severely suffered from his legal battles. After the corruption cases, Bruno retired.
3. NYS Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver
Silver, who served as the New York State Assembly Speaker from 1994 to 2015, has played a huge role in the political corruption in the USA.
He was arrested and convicted on seven felony counts in 2015. Silver’s arrest was considered as the most significant takedown of a New York politician in recent history.
Real estate and Tax breaks were two of the charges against Silver. The former NYS Assembly Speaker served time in prison until his death in 2022.
4. Governor Eliot Spitzer
Known as the “Sheriff of Wall Street” for his aggressiveness, he was a former Governor of New York whose career was cut short by a personal scandal. Eliot Spizer announced his resignation in 2008 after being caught in a prostitution scandal in D.C.
The NY Times broke the story that Spitzer had been involved with a high-end prostitution ring, Emperor’s Club VIP. On March 12, 2008, Spitzer resigned from governorship due to public outrage after  only 14 months in office.
Despite investigations and potential legal consequences, the former governor was not criminally charged.
5. Pedro Espada, Jr.
Pedro Espada Jr, a former New York State Senate Majority Leader, is considered as one of New York’s most notorious and Most corrupt politician of all time due to his involvement in several corruption scandals.
The 70-year-old former leader’s career was marred by political controversy, legal battles, and eventual conviction on federal charges related to embezzlement.
Scandals such as the Embezzlement from Soundview, False Residency Allegations and Violations of Campaign Finance Law caused Espada’s resignation from office.
He was indicted on six federal counts of embezzlement and theft on December 14, 2010Â and left office in January 2011.
6. NYS Attorney General Eric Schneiderman
Eric Schneiderman served as the 65th Attorney General of New York. In 2018, Schneiderman resigned after a New Yorker report revealed that our women had accused him of physical and emotional abuse.
The allegations were particularly damaging because Schneiderman was a self- proclaimed advocate of women’s rights and supported the #MeToo Movement as well.
He resigned within three hours after the publication of this article.
7. Anthony Weiner
Anthony Weiner is a former U.S. Representative from New York who served from 1992 to 1998. Weiner’s political career fell apart when he was found guilty in a sexting scandal that became a media sensation.
He was accused of sending obscene materials to a teenager. In 2011, he sent a lewd picture of himself over Twitter. Later, he resigned after the behavior came to light.
8. NYS Comptroller Alan Hevesi
Alan Hevesi was a New York State Assemblyman from 1971 to 1993 and the New York State Comptroller from 2003 to 2006. Hevesi’s political career was marred with controversies and corruption allegations.
Hevesi was accused of using state employee to chauffeur his wife. This sparked public outrage and was one of the few reasons why Hevesi resigned in 2006.
He Allen Hevesi pleaded guilty to a felony for his role in a pay-to-play scheme involving the state’s pension fund.
9. Dean Skelos
Skelos is another high-ranking politician with a political career embroiled in several corruption scandals. In 2015, Skelos and his son Adam were arrested on federal corruption charges.
The former leader was accused of using his powerful position to extort businesses for payments and jobs benefiting his son. Soon after this, Skelos resigned from office.
As New York City continues to evolve, the legacy of its most corrupt politicians serves as a stark reminder of the fine line between power and abuse. From backroom deals to blatant self-serving agendas, these figures have shaped the city in ways that still resonate today.
Yet, even in the face of scandal and infamy, New York’s resilient spirit endures. It’s clear that corruption may change faces, but the need for reform remains constant.
The question is not whether these figures will be forgotten, but whether the lessons from their actions will lead to a future where integrity, not influence, defines our leadership. New York’s story is far from over — and the fight for its future is one that demands vigilance, accountability, and the unwavering pursuit of justice.
