New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin was arrested Tuesday in a federal corruption investigation, sparking a political crisis for Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul seven months after she picked him second-in-command to start over in a shaken office. over former Governor Andrew Cuomo’s sexual harassment scandal.
Hochul chose Benjamin in September to serve as her second-in-command when she becomes governor, succeeding Democrat Andrew Cuomo. He resigned amid allegations that he had sexually harassed eleven women, which he denied.
Also a Democrat, Benjamim was indicted for participating in a scheme to obtain campaign contributions from a real estate developer in exchange for using his influence as a state senator to obtain a $50,000 grant from state funds for a nonprofit organization. which, according to the FBI, is actually controlled by the businessman.
Damian Williams, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, condemned Benjamin at a news conference Tuesday afternoon. «This is a simple story of corruption,” he said, adding: “Taxpayer money for campaign contributions. Quid pro quo. This for that. That’s bribery, plain and simple.”
The lieutenant governor now faces charges including bribery, fraud, conspiracy and falsifying records. Benjamin pleaded not guilty at an initial arraignment appearance in federal court in Manhattan. He was released on $250,000 bond.
In November, after Benjamin became lieutenant governor, the real estate businessman was accused of diverting campaign contributions toward Benjamin’s unsuccessful bid for New York City Comptroller. Federal authorities charged the businessman in question, Gerald Migdol, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft by making illegal donations to Benjamin’s campaign.
The indictment alleges that Benjamin, a former state senator from Harlem, and others who acted at his direction or on his behalf also engaged in a series of lies and deceptions to cover up the scheme that spanned from 2019 to 2021.
They falsified campaign donor forms, misled city regulators and provided false information on investigative forms Benjamin filed while he was being considered for appointment as lieutenant governor, according to the indictment.
Reports recently surfaced that Benjamin had been issued subpoenas regarding financial problems even before Hochul chose him as lieutenant governor.
“We will have a statement out there. I haven’t had a chance to talk to him. He was doing media interviews this morning. This is not the place, but I will address it very soon, “said Hochul in a few brief statements as he addressed the issue of the shooting in the New York Subway.
