Politicians in trouble with the law

Ex-NY State Senate Leader Dean Skelos, foreground, and son Adam Skelos, background, leaving court on Dec. 11, 2015 after being convicted on federal corruption charges. Skelos was accused of using his office to extort about $300,000 in salary and other benefits for his son, Adam.

Sheldon Silver

Former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver was found guilty in November, 2015 on all counts in his federal trial on charges of bribery, extortion and money laundering.

Silver was one of the most powerful men in Albany and along with Gov. Andrew Cuomo and former Senate leader Dean Skelos (who was later found guilty on federal charges) were sometimes called the "three men in a room."

Silver was convicted of receiving $5 million in improper fees from law firms for referrals. He faces up to 130 years in prison.

Rob Ford

Former Toronto Mayor Rob Ford faced allegations in May 2013 that he had been caught on video puffing from a glass crack pipe. Two reporters with the Toronto Star said they saw the video, but it has not been released publicly and Ford maintains it does not exist. However, on Oct. 31, 2013, Toronto's police chief said they have recovered an alleged drug video involving Ford. Police Chief Bill Blair said Thursday he was "disappointed" after viewing the video, but that there was nothing in the video that would provide grounds to press charges.

Jesse Jackson Jr.

Former Representative Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy on Feb. 20, 2013 in a U.S. District Court, after allegedly misusing hundreds of thousands of campaign dollars on personal expenses such as a gold-plated Rolex and fur capes for his wife. Jackson was charged for misusing $750,000 in campaign funds between August 2005 and July 2012. He was sentenced in 2013 and was released from prison in September 2015.

Kwame Kilpatrick

Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who served in that position from 2002 to 2008, was sentenced to 28 years in prison in 2013 for corruption that included fattening his bank account by tens of thousands of dollars, travelling the country in private planes and strong-arming his campaign fundraiser for stacks of cash hidden in her bra, according to evidence at trial.

Malcolm Smith

New York state Sen. Malcolm Smith, D-Queens, was arrested on April 2, 2013 along with several other politicians in an alleged plot to rig the upcoming mayoral election in New York City. Federal prosecutors say Smith tried to bribe some of New York City's Republican Party bosses to get himself on the ballot as a GOP candidate. Among the others charged in the case are New York City Councilman Dan Halloran; Bronx County Republican Party Chairman Joseph Savino; Queens County Republican Party Vice Chairman Vincent Tabone; Spring Valley Mayor Noramie Jasmin; and Spring Valley Deputy Mayor Joseph Desmaret. Charges include bribery, extortion, and wire and mail fraud, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said. Smith denies wrongdoing, his lawyer, Gerald L. Shargel, told The New York Times.

Steve Katz

New York State assemblyman Steve Katz, who has publicly condemned the use of drugs, was arrested and charged on March 14, 2013 with marijuana possession during a traffic stop, police said, according to The New York Times. Katz, a 59-year-old Republican from Mohegan Lake, N.Y., was stopped for speeding on a state thruway in Coeymans. After noting the odor of marijuana, a state trooper found "a small bag of marijuana" in Katz's possession, New York State police said. According to the paper, Katz was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Katz, a veterinarian by trade, is a member of the Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Committee. According to The Times, he voted against a bill in 2012 that would have legalized medical marijuana.

John Edwards

Former North Carolina senator, two-time presidential candidate and 2004 Democratic vice presidential nominee John Edwards was found guilty on May 31, 2012 on one of six charges of campaign finance corruption. Edwards was found guilty of accepting and receiving illegal campaign contributions in 2008 from Rachel "Bunny" Mellon. A mistrial was declared on the remaining five counts.

Rod Blagojevich

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was sentenced to 14 years in prison on Dec. 7, 2011 for fraud and corruption that included trying to sell or trade an appointment to the Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama. Blagojevich was initially arrested on Dec. 9, 2008. The jury deadlocked in his first trial, agreeing on just one of 24 counts - that Blagojevich lied to the FBI. Jurors at his retrial convicted him on 17 of 20 counts, including bribery.

Tom DeLay

Former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) was sentenced to three years in prison on Jan. 10, 2011 for his role in a scheme to illegally funnel corporate money to Texas candidates in 2002. A jury in November 2010 convicted DeLay on charges of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The former Houston-area congressman had faced up to life in prison. DeLay contended the charges were politically motivated and the money swap in question was legal.

Courtney Stadd

Courtney Stadd, NASA's former chief of staff and White House liaison, was convicted in August 2010 of enriching himself and helping a consulting client get $9.6 million in grants. He was sentenced in November 2010 to 41 months in a federal correctional institute. Courtney Stadd (R) inspect debris from the Space Shuttle Columbia April 1, 2003 at Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

Samuel B. Kent

Samuel B. Kent, the Federal District Judge of Galveston, Texas, was sentenced on May 11, 2009 to 33 months in prison for lying about sexually harassing two female employees. He had been appointed to office by George H. W. Bush in 1990.