It was old-fashioned political corruption, federal prosecutors told a jury Wednesday, with former New York State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos shaking down three companies for hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments to his son, Adam. In one case, it was $20,000 in an envelope, they said. In another, they said, it was a $78,000-a-year no-show job.

"This case is about the abuse of political power to satisfy personal greed," Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Zolkind said. "Sen. Skelos pressured. Adam Skelos got paid."

Both men were convicted on all counts in 2015. Dean Skelos lost his Senate seat and was sentenced to five years in prison; Adam Skelos to six-and-a-half years.

But thanks to a Supreme Court decision that narrowed the definition of political corruption, their convictions were overturned last year.

Now, prosecutors must present their case all over again. They say Dean Skelos strong-armed three companies, including the big real estate firm Glenwood Management, who knew Skelos could make or break their fortunes with legislative action.

"We're not going to have a comment today, though. Thanks," Robert Gage, an attorney for Dean Skelos, said outside the courthouse.

Skelos's attorney says it's not credible that the powerful businessmen involved would have feared Skelos, and that no legislative favors were done; the bills they wanted passed were uncontroversial.

The trial's first witness was Chris Curcio, Adam Skelos's supervisor at a medical malpractice insurance firm. He said when confronted about his performance and the fact he rarely bothered to show up for work, Adam blew up and threatened to bash his head in.

The defense said Adam wasn't employee of the month, but was hired and kept on simply as a favor to owner Anthony Bonomo, a longtime family friend.

Adam Skelos's attorney acknowledged that he's sometimes volatile and that he said shameful things to his supervisor, but that this is not a case about whether Adam Skelos is a good person or a bad person.