John L. Sampson

John Sampson
Member of the New York Senate from the 19th district
In office January 1997 – July 24, 2015
Preceded by	Howard E. Babbush
Succeeded by	Roxanne J. Persaud
Minority Leader of the New York State Senate
In office January 3, 2011 – 2013
Preceded by	Dean Skelos
Succeeded by	Andrea Stewart-Cousins
Democratic Conference Chairman New York State Senate
In office June 16, 2009 – December 31, 2010
Preceded by	Office created
Personal details
Born	June 17, 1965 Brooklyn, New York
Political party	Democratic Party
Alma mater	Brooklyn College (B.A.) Albany Law School (J.D.)

John L. Sampson (born June 17, 1965) represented District 19 in the New York State Senate, which comprises Crown Heights, East Flatbush, as well as portions of Brownsville, Canarsie and Spring Creek Towers. Sampson was found guilty of federal charges on July 24, 2015.

Education and early legal career

Sampson earned his B.A. in Political Science from Brooklyn College and a J.D. from Albany Law School (class of 1991). He was a member of the Board of Trustees of Albany Law School.^[1]

Sampson worked as law clerk with the Department of Environmental Conservation and as a Staff Attorney to the Legal Aid Society of New York.^[2]

Starting in 1994, he worked as an attorney for the law firm of Alter and Barbaro, Esqs.^[3]

Political career

Elected in 1996 to the New York State Senate, Sampson was the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Deputy Majority Leader for State/Federal Relations. He was also the ranking minority member of the Senate Health Committee.

Sampson had the distinction of being the first African-American to serve as the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He also served as Chair of the Senate Ethics Committee and the Senate Administrative Regulations Review Commission.^[2]

In 2005, Sampson made an unsuccessful bid to become District Attorney of Kings County, New York, opposing the incumbent, Charles "Joe" Hynes.

On June 15, 2009, Sampson was elevated to the leadership of the Democratic Conference of the State Senate. As conference chairman, he was responsible for the day-to-day operations and the legislative agenda of the Democratic caucus. He served in leadership alongside former Majority Leader and Temporary Senate President Malcolm Smith.^[4]

On May 6, 2013 Sampson was indicted by a federal grand jury for embezzlement, obstruction of justice, and making false statements to the Federal Bureau of Investigation stemming from alleged theft of $400,000 from the sale of foreclosed homes,^[5][6] to which he pleaded not guilty.^[7] Following his indictment, he was removed from committee assignments, ranking positions, and banned from conferencing with senate Democrats.^[8]

On July 24, 2015, Sampson was convicted of one count of obstruction of justice and two counts of making false statements to federal agents, which are felonies, and was thereby expelled from the Senate.^[9][10]

On March 10, 2016, the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court suspended Sampson from the practice of law.^[11] Because of an appeal based on the 2016 United States Supreme Court decision that overturned the conviction of former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell,^[12] Sampson is awaiting a review of his case and has not been sentenced.^[13]

References

1. "Hon. John L. Sampson '91". Archived from the original on June 27, 2013. Retrieved 2015-07-27.
2. Biography: John L. Sampson, New York State Senate, found at http://www.nysenate.gov/senator/john-l-sampson/bio. Accessed May 21, 2012.
3. King, David Howard (6 May 2013). "Who Is NY State Sen. John Sampson?". GothamGazette. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
4. Danny Hakim and Jeremy W. Peters, "Judge Refuses to Reverse G.O.P. Takeover of State Senate," New York Times, June 16, 2009, found at New York Times website. Accessed June 16, 2009.
5. "Senator in Corruption Case Spoke of Silencing Witnesses, Prosecutors Say". New York Times. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
6. "For New York Legislators, Indictments Are No Obstacle to Seeking Re-election". New York Times. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
7. http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/05/new_york_state_sen_john_sampso_1.html
8. Vielkind, Jimmy. "Feds: Sen. John Sampson embezzled". Albany Times Union. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
9. John Sampson, New York State Senator, Is Guilty on Some Federal Charges by Stephanie Clifford, in the New York Times on July 24, 2015
10. "New York State Senator John Sampson Convicted of Obstruction of Justice and False Statements". fbi.gov. Federal Bureau of Investigation. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
11. http://www.nycourts.gov/reporter/motions/2016/2016_66541.htm
12. Peralta, Eyder (June 27, 2016). "Supreme Court Throws Out Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell's Conviction". National Public Radio. NPR. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
13. Gregorian, Dareh (July 5, 2016). "Corrupt Former Sen. John Sampson Wants New Trial, Hopes to Take Advantage of Supreme Court's Ruling in Ex-Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell's Case". New York Daily News. Retrieved 17 August 2016.