Senate GOP members met behind closed doors Tuesday for the first time since The New York Times reported and Skelos confirmed that he's under federal investigation for corruption. Senators, including John Flanigan, of Long Island, said they are behind Skelos. "I believe there is support for the majority leader," he said.

Senator John DeFrancisco of Syracuse said senators will try to focus on the work they have to do in the next two months, and not be distracted. “Rather than just languishing over an undisclosed investigation,” DeFrancisco said. “And just sit here like potted plants."

He and other senators said their top priority is to revise the newly-designed teacher performance reviews that were passed as part of the state budget.