Republicans in the state Senate are in a jam: They owe $50,000 to former Majority Leader Dean Skelos, but if they pay it back, they’ll be accused of aiding a convicted felon.
The once-mighty Skelos advanced $100,000 from his bulging campaign account to the Senate GOP in October 2014 to help Republicans maintain their majority.
The first half of the IOU was quickly repaid.
But the other $50,000 was still outstanding when Skelos was indicted for corruption in May 2015.
Since he was using his campaign funds to pay for criminal defense lawyers, the Senate GOP held off making any new payments pending the outcome of the case.
On Tuesday, Skelos and his son, Adam, were convicted of eight counts of corruption-related charges in a retrial.
One political analyst said the GOP’s decision not to completely sever ties with Skelos sooner was foolhardy, especially as they face a tough fight to retain of their slim majority in November.
“I would have thought they would have completely washed their hands of Skelos. They should have done that right off the bat,” said consultant George Arzt.
“They seem oblivious to the optics of the situation.”
A Senate GOP spokesman, when asked about the Skelos debt, said Republicans are focusing on the elections.
The Senate GOP Campaign Committee has about $1.7 million in its account, records show.
Skelos could use the money.
His campaign committee, Friends for the Election of Dean Skelos, is nearly depleted — with only $14,368.95 is left.
Skelos has tapped his campaign fund to cover nearly $2.4 million in legal bills, which is legal under current law.
Senate Democrats were quick to seize on the issue.
“The fact that the Republicans are relying on a loan from a convicted felon tells you everything you need to know about their corruption conference,” said Senate Democratic spokesman Mike Murphy.
Senate Democrats are not without stain, however.
Two of their former leaders, Malcolm Smith and John Sampson, were sentenced to prison for crimes.
The Republicans currently maintain a razor-thin 32-31 majority, but only because one rogue Democrat, Brooklyn Sen. Simcha Felder, caucuses with them.