Jurors in the criminal trial against former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver heard audio recordings on Tuesday of Silver repeatedly telling reporters that his only outside income came from representing “ordinary” people in personal injury actions, not corporations and no one with business before the state.

Prosecutors played several interviews between reporters and Silver about his financial disclosures in an attempt to bolster their criminal case claiming Silver concealed the sources of his income totaling nearly $4 million through two law firms.

According to the Southern District U.S. Attorney's Office, Silver was paid more than $3 million from 100-attorney personal injury firm Weitz & Luxenberg for cases referred by asbestos doctor Dr. Robert Taub, who in turn received $500,000 in state funds for his research center as well as other favors from Silver.