A federal appeals court has tossed out the conviction of a former Republican leader of the New York Senate.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the conviction of former senate majority leader Joseph Bruno.

However, the news is not entirely good for Bruno: according to the Albany Times-Union, Bruno faces a new trial, because the court refused to block prosecutors from bringing up on charges again.

And the appeals court noted that there would be ample evidence at a new trial for Bruno to be convicted, under a recent ruling by the Supreme Court.
 
Bruno was convicted in 2009 of denying taxpayers honest services by concealing a deal with a business associate who paid him as a consultant.
 
It was expected that the 2nd Circuit would reverse the conviction after the U.S. Supreme Court last year ruled in the case of former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling.

The Supreme Court found that federal statutes used to fight white-collar and public official fraud only criminalize schemes with proof of bribes or kickbacks.
 
The 2nd Circuit agreed to return the case to the lower court in Albany, where prosecutors will seek a new indictment.

- from the Associated Press