Lawyers are offering a federal jury two starkly different portrayals of former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver — one as a symbol of greed and corruption; the other as a respected politician who had a right to make money outside his political profession.

Prosecutor Carrie Cohen pointed across the courtroom Tuesday toward Silver and accused the once-powerful Democrat of making $5 million through kickbacks from developers.

Defense attorney Steven Molo countered by describing Silver as a champion of tenants, not developers. He insisted his client's outside income as an attorney was legal.

Silver has pleaded not guilty in a case that has increased scrutiny of politicians in Albany, where power has long been concentrated in the hands of the Assembly speaker, the Senate president and the governor.