New York lieutenant governor resigns after arrest in federal probe

New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin resigned Tuesday, just hours after being indicted on bribery and fraud charges tied to an illegal campaign finance scheme.

“I have accepted Brian Benjamin’s resignation effective immediately,” Gov. Kathy Hochul announced in a statement late Tuesday afternoon. “While the legal process plays out, it is clear to both of us that he cannot continue to serve as lieutenant governor. New Yorkers deserve absolute confidence in their government, and I will continue working every day to deliver for them.”

When Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigned last year after several women accused him of sexual misconduct, the sitting lieutenant governor, Hochul, was elevated to replace him. She then appointed Benjamin as her lieutenant governor. Hochul had expressed her support for Benjamin last week.

The former state senator turned himself in Tuesday morning and was charged with five counts in connection with his failed bid for New York City comptroller last year. Benjamin is accused of working with a real estate developer in order to arrange for thousands of dollars in illegal campaign donations for which, in exchange, Benjamin is alleged to have directed state funds to the investor.

The developer, Gerald Migdol, was arrested in November and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft relating to a scheme to misrepresent and conceal the sources of political campaign contributions. Justice Department officials noted that another individual involved was a candidate in the New York City comptroller race, but did not name Benjamin at the time.

Then a state senator, Benjamin finished fourth in the Democratic primary for comptroller.

According to the indictment, he is facing counts of bribery, honest services wire fraud and falsification of records. Last month, the New York Times reported that Benjamin was the focus of a federal probe.

“Exploiting one’s official authority by allocating state funds as part of a bribe to procure donations to a political campaign and engaging in activity to cover up the bribe is illegal,” Michael J. Driscoll, the FBI’s assistant director in charge of the New York field office, said in a statement Tuesday. “As we allege today, Benjamin’s conduct in this scheme directly circumvents those procedures put in place to keep our systems fair”. (Yahoo News)