John Flanagan Gets Lawyerly When Asked If He's Under Criminal Investigation

This should inspire lots of confidence:

Flanagan was asked at least three times whether he is under investigation or has a legal problem. Answer: "There's nothing to worry about"

— Nick Reisman (@NickReisman) May 11, 2015

Some twitter responses:

@NickReisman @MercyMercyf Haha, where have I heard that before? .... Oh, right, Silver and Skelos ...

— Quest For The Snark (@Quest4TheSnark) May 11, 2015

@NickReisman @NewellNYC Which is not the same as "No I am not under investigation."

— Charmian Neary (@CharmianNeary) May 11, 2015

@NickReisman That's what my kid says when I ask him about his chemistry grade. This is what New York has become...

— Cornbread (@HoldFast33) May 12, 2015

@NickReisman @MercyMercyf Sounds like an answer from a true politician

— Dale Driscoll (@helensmomma) May 11, 2015

Sure does sound like a politican's answer, specifically a politician with something to hide.

 We can be pretty certain he was one of the Long Island senators subpoenaed in the Skelos case.

The Daily News reported that Flanagan has some serious conflict of interests surrounding his legal work and voting record.

Today, after Flanagan replaced Skelos as majority leader, the DN editorial page ran the following:

The sendoff that Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos got from his Republican colleagues — when he stepped down seven days after his arrest — was an appalling show of how deep the corruption culture runs in Albany.

There Skelos sat, like an honored retiree, as hand-picked successor John Flanagan sang his praises. A fellow member of the tight-knit Long Island caucus, Flanagan had been among Skelos’ staunchest defenders.

While a brave few Republicans called for Skelos to step down, Flanagan was one of 16 who shamefully issued a declaration of loyalty after Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara laid out his devastating case.

Like the old boss, Flanagan has drawn a six-figure salary from a law firm, without clearly saying what he does for the money or whom he does it for — then cast votes on bills affecting the business interests of that firm’s major clients.

Flanagan severed that relationship before rising to become one of the state’s three most powerful officials — rather than face persistent and obvious questions about conflicts of interest and, no doubt, law-enforcement interest.

Newly-elected Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie was allegedly investigated as part of the Moreland Commission work and now newly-elected Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan is getting all lawyerly when asked if he's under criminal investigation or facing any legal trouble.

You just can't make this stuff up.