LOWER MANHATTAN — Sheldon Silver is getting two more months of summertime freedom.
Manhattan federal judge Valeri Caproni on Wednesday pushed back the start date for the disgraced ex-Assembly Speaker's 12-year prison sentence, according to court records.
Silver, convicted on a host of corruption charges related to two bribery schemes, was initially ordered to start his jail time July 1, but Caproni agreed to push the date to Aug. 31, allowing for a decision from the U.S. Supreme Court on a corruption case that could affect Silver's appeal efforts.
Silver is also asking to remain out on bail while he appeals his case — an issue that may be affected by how the Supreme Court rules in the corruption case of former Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell.
The case, which is dealing with questions of what constitutes corruption may have ripple effects on Silver's appeal, Silver's lawyers argue.
Caproni is also giving defense and prosecution five weeks after the Supreme Court rules on McDonnell's corruption conviction to file revised arguments on Silver's request to stay out on bail while he appeals.
A decision in the McDonnell case is expected this summer.
Silver was also ordered to start paying his fines related to the crimes, which include extortion, fraud and money laundering, on August 15.