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WABC FTG SHELDON SILVER ARRIVING TO COURT Sheldon Silver told Dr. Robert Taub to keep scheme a secret, feds' witness says at corruption trial BY STEPHEN REX BROWN NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Wednesday, November 4, 2015, 3:02 PM A A A 7 1 SHARE THIS URL Dr. Robert Taub (l.) testifies in the trial of Sheldon Silver (r.) in U.S. District Court Wednesday, saying he had an arrangement with the former Assembly Speaker that he kept secret. JANE ROSENBERG/FOR NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Dr. Robert Taub (l.) testifies in the trial of Sheldon Silver (r.) in U.S. District Court Wednesday, saying he had an arrangement with the former Assembly Speaker that he kept secret. The star witness in the government's case against Sheldon Silver said Tuesday the assemblyman asked him to keep their arrangement under wraps. Columbia University oncologist Dr. Robert Taub said he was introduced to the former Assembly Speaker in the 1980s through a mutual friend, Daniel Chill. In 2003 Taub began referring patients suffering from mesothelioma to Silver, who then directed them to the powerhouse law firm Weitz & Luxenberg. "I hoped to develop a relationship with him that would help fund mesothelioma research and help my patients," Taub, 79, said, sporting a colorful bowtie. "I think that he conveyed he was pleased with the referrals he was getting." In 2004 Chill - an attorney with ties to the State Assembly - asked his name not be included in a letter from Taub to Silver requesting state money for the research, which he ultimately received. In 2005, around the time of Silver's inauguration, he told Taub to keep Chill in the dark about the deal, Taub said. The alleged quid pro quo arrangement with Taub is one of two secret corruption schemes federal prosecutors say Silver orchestrated. SETH WENIG/AP The alleged quid pro quo arrangement with Taub is one of two secret corruption schemes federal prosecutors say Silver orchestrated. "(Silver) said I should not tell Mr. Chill about any further referrals," Taub said. "I didn't know how to take it," he said, adding that he complied with the request. Taub received two separate grants for $250,000 from the state Department of Health without having to answer any questions about his work, he said. In October 2007 Silver came to Taub's office and said he had to pull the plug on the state cash. "I can't do this anymore," Taub recalled Silver saying. "I was disappointed," said Taub, who nevertheless continued sending patients to Silver. Asbestos lawyer Perry Weitz (l.) testifies at the trial. JANE ROSENBERG/FOR NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Asbestos lawyer Perry Weitz (l.) testifies at the trial. Judge Valerie Caproni did not allow Taub to explain how he first learned Silver wanted the patients sent his way. The arrangement earned Silver $3 million in referral fees over the course of 10 years, prosecutors say. Silver also helped Taub's daughter score an unpaid internship with a state judge and got his son a job, he testified. The alleged quid pro quo arrangement with Taub is one of two secret corruption schemes federal prosecutors say Silver, a Lower East Side Democrat, orchestrated. Taub, who testified in exchange for a promise he wouldn't face federal charges, said when the feds visited his apartment in 2014 he was terrified and initially lied to investigators. He later copped to obtaining prescription pain drugs for his wife that were improperly made out to him.