Brian Benjamin, the Lieutenant Governor of New York, is reported to have been arrested in a campaign finance scheme with Gerald Migdol. Continue reading to learn more about the case.
Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin of New York has been arrested on federal campaign financing fraud allegations stemming from a prior campaign.
According to the New York Times, Benjamin, the second in command to Governor Kathy Hochul, surrendered to police on Tuesday morning.
In order to face allegations that he plotted with a Harlem real estate investor to conduct bribery when he was a state senator campaigning for New York City comptroller.
Benjamin has been charged with five charges, including bribery, wire fraud, and document falsification. He is scheduled to appear in federal court in Manhattan later on Tuesday.
Gerald Migdol and Brian Benjamin Bribery Case and Charges Discovered
Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin of New York, whose seven months in office have been overshadowed by investigations into a prior campaign, was detained Tuesday in a federal corruption investigation.
In an indictment, the Democrat was accused of engaging in a plan to acquire campaign donations from a real estate developer in exchange for Benjamin’s pledge to use his influence as a state senator to get a $50,000 state grant for a nonprofit organization run by the developer.
He was scheduled to make his first appearance in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday, facing allegations of bribery, fraud, conspiracy, and record falsification.
Two lawyers representing Benjamin did not reply to emails seeking comment right away.
Benjamin joined Gov. Kathy Hochul’s cabinet in September, having been picked by her to resume her previous position just a few weeks after she took over the governorship following the departure of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo over sexual harassment charges.
Brian Benjamin- Was He Arrested Too?
According to two persons familiar with the situation, New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin has surrendered to authorities to face campaign finance fraud charges in connection with a previous campaign.
Benjamin is scheduled to appear in federal court in Manhattan later Tuesday. Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office, as well as a spokesman for Benjamin, could not be reached for comment on the arrest immediately.
His arrest follows rumors that federal prosecutors in Manhattan and the FBI were investigating whether Benjamin willfully participated in a campaign money crime conspiracy.
Two individuals familiar with the subpoenas indicated at the time that they were issued in conjunction with the inquiry.
Investigators also looked into whether Benjamin assisted in the distribution of state funds to donors and/or their projects as part of the suspected scam.