By: Hal C Clarke

Staten Island Democrats have put forth an unconventional candidate for the position of commissioner on the city Board of Elections. The NY Post was the first to highlight this political development.

Michele Sileo, a bold attorney and former reality TV personality, has been nominated by the Staten Island Democratic Party leadership, with the support of Councilwoman Kamillah Hanks. This decision concludes an internal party conflict that had simmered over the previous nominee.

Michele Sileo’s journey to this nomination is marked by both professional achievements and personal controversies. The 50-year-old Sileo once graced television screens as the star of “Staten Island Law,” a show that aired briefly on the Oprah Winfrey Network in 2013.

Her time in the spotlight also attracted attention due to her marriage to NYPD officer James Grant, who faced allegations of corruption in 2016. Grant was ultimately indicted but later acquitted of charges related to bribery.

Sileo’s husband, James Grant, was embroiled in a corruption scandal that involved allegations of bribery. He faced charges of accepting bribes such as a Las Vegas hotel room and a prostitute from individuals linked to then-Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Despite the allegations, Grant was acquitted in a 2019 trial, leading to his retirement from the NYPD. In the aftermath of the trial, he reemerged as a private investigator and real estate agent. Notably, Grant’s co-defendant, Jeremy Reichberg, a fundraiser for De Blasio, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and bribery by a jury.

Kamillah Hanks, the North Shore Councilwoman representing Staten Island, has voiced her support for Sileo’s nomination, citing her qualities as a skilled attorney. The Councilwoman’s previous rift with Debi Rose, her predecessor, led to Rose’s nomination being blocked, thus paving the way for Sileo’s nomination. Hanks emphasized Sileo’s legal acumen and suitability for the role, expressing satisfaction that the Staten Island Democratic Party endorsed her choice.

Sileo, who currently serves as a lecturer at the online Empire State University, is no stranger to controversy. During her time on reality TV, she made headlines with her wisecracks on a legal tutoring website, adopting a persona that seemed to blend gangster and dominatrix characteristics.

On the Lawyer Up platform, her profile humorously described her as a “fat, hairy, bald man with a filthy mouth and a bad attitude.” Despite the provocative nature of her past remarks, Sileo clarified that they were part of an effort to make law more engaging and accessible to a wider audience. She stood by her legal credentials and emphasized her twenty years of experience in practicing law, including her role as a public defender and part-time professor at SUNY.

Sileo also spoke about her association with Oprah Winfrey in 2012, describing it as a unique and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. She acknowledged that her persona at the time was crafted to bring a sense of fun and approachability to the field of law. Sileo asserted that practicing law remains her passion, and her extensive background speaks for itself, with her contributions including co-authoring study guides for first-year law students.

The upcoming City Council process will determine whether Sileo assumes this crucial role in overseeing elections within the city.