Former state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver's lawyers asked a judge to throw out a bribery case against him on Tuesday, saying the prosecutor went too far in discussing the case publicly.

Authorities say the Democrat exploited his power to reap $4 million in kickbacks in a case that has rocked New York's power structure.

But his lawyer, Steve Molo, said Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara's statements after Silver's arrest broke rules about what prosecutors can say outside of court and prejudiced the grand jury that indicted him last week.

"The U.S. Attorney excoriated the defendant and basically deprived him of the presumption of innocence, and basically extolled his guilt," Molo said.

Silver pleaded not guilty Tuesday and said through his lawyers: "I will be vindicated in the court."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Cohen said Bharara's statements were nothing unusual or extraordinary and didn't affect the grand jury. "All of the allegations by Mr. Molo just now in court are baseless," she said.

During more than 20 years as Assembly speaker, Silver played a major part in creating state budgets and policies as one of Albany's "three men in a room" when big decisions are made: the governor, the Senate majority leader and the speaker.

Known as a backroom master, Silver could single-handedly decide the fate of legislation, determining which proposals came up for an Assembly vote.

Prosecutors allege he illegally cashed in on his outsize influence, making big money by doing political favors — not legal work — for law firms.

The case prompted Silver's resignation from a leadership role that made him one of the state's foremost power brokers, roiling a state capital where 28 legislators have stepped down because of criminal or ethical issues during the past 15 years. Four others, including Silver, remain in office while fighting charges.

He stepped down as speaker after his January arrest, but he retains the lower Manhattan Assembly seat he has held for nearly 40 years.

The case demonstrates that "the show-me-the-money culture of Albany has been perpetuated and promoted at the very top of the political food chain," Bharara said in announcing Silver's arrest last month on charges including honest service fraud and extortion under the color of official duties. Silver was indicted last week.

The case centers on law firm "referral fees" that prosecutors say were actually kickbacks to Silver, 70, who is an attorney.

One firm specializes in representing people who say they have been sickened by asbestos. The firm paid Silver more than $3 million while he quietly arranged $500,000 in state grants benefiting a doctor who referred his patients to the firm, prosecutors said. While Silver said he spent several hours each week evaluating potential cases for the firm, prosecutors said he did no work on the asbestos cases.

Meanwhile, a real estate tax law firm paid Silver for using his political clout to net powerful developers as clients, prosecutors said. A Silver representative has said none of Silver's legal clients had business before the state, but prosecutors say he provided key support for a proposal made by one of the developers.

Silver's successor as Assembly speaker, Democrat Carl Heastie, has promised to focus on ethics and integrity. His proposals include new limits on how much outside income lawmakers can earn.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has suggested his own proposals, including full disclosure of outside income.