New York Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin speaks in the course of the New York State Democratic Conference, on Feb. 17, 2022. (Seth Wenig / AP)
ALBANY, N.Y. --
New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin was arrested Tuesday in a federal corruption investigation, making a political disaster for Gov. Kathy Hochul seven months after she chosen Benjamin as a companion to make a recent begin in an workplace already rocked by scandal.
Benjamin, a Democrat, was accused in an indictment of taking part in a scheme to acquire marketing campaign contributions from an actual property developer in change for Benjamin's settlement to make use of his affect as a state senator to get a US$50,000 grant of state funds for a nonprofit group the developer managed.
Going through fees together with bribery, fraud, conspiracy and falsification of information, Benjamin pleaded not responsible Tuesday at an preliminary look in Manhattan federal courtroom. He was launched and bail was set at $250,000.
Two attorneys representing Benjamin didn't instantly reply to messages searching for remark.
Hochul in September plucked Benjamin, then a state lawmaker, to function second-in-command when she grew to become governor, taking up for Democrat Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo resigned amid allegations he sexually harassed 11 girls, which he denied.
Hochul, additionally a Democrat, was Cuomo's lieutenant governor. She is now working for governor on this 12 months's election, with Benjamin as a working mate.
Hochul, who appeared at a New York Metropolis information convention Tuesday concerning a taking pictures on the subway, mentioned she would discuss Benjamin later within the day.
"We'll have a press release on the market. I've not had an opportunity to talk to him. I used to be doing media interviews this morning. However this isn't the place however I shall be addressing it very shortly," Hochul mentioned.
Two months after Benjamin grew to become lieutenant governor, an actual property developer who steered marketing campaign contributions towards Benjamin's failed bid for New York Metropolis comptroller was indicted. Federal authorities accused Gerald Migdol of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identification theft in illegally giving donations to Benjamin's marketing campaign.
The indictment mentioned Benjamin, previously a state senator from Harlem, and others appearing at his path or on his behalf additionally engaged in a sequence of lies and deceptions to cowl up the scheme that stretched from 2019 to 2021.
They falsified marketing campaign donor types, misled municipal regulators and offered false data in vetting types Benjamin submitted whereas he was being thought-about to be appointed as lieutenant governor, the indictment mentioned.
Prosecutors had beforehand not made any accusations in opposition to Benjamin, and his marketing campaign mentioned on the time of Migdol's arrest that it had forfeited any improper donations as quickly as they have been found.
Extra lately, stories got here out saying subpoenas had been issued to Benjamin concerning the monetary points even earlier than Hochul picked him as lieutenant governor.
Republican chairman Nick Langworthy mentioned in a ready assertion that "Hochul selected a grimy politician to function her companion in authorities and working mate."
"Brian Benjamin's shady dealings and corruption have been well-documented, however Hochul turned a blind eye and put him a heartbeat away from the governorship," Langworthy mentioned.
Hochul mentioned Monday at a press convention she did not know of the subpoenas when she tapped Benjamin to be her No. 2.
She mentioned final week she had the "utmost confidence" in Benjamin.
"That is an impartial investigation associated to different individuals and he is absolutely cooperating. He's my working mate," Hocuhl mentioned Thursday at a press convention.
Republican minority legislative leaders -- Senate Chief Rob Ortt and Meeting Chief Will Barclay -- referred to as on Benjamin to resign.
"Kathy Hochul and Senate Democrats would possibly tolerate this corruption, however New Yorkers do not and neither do I," Ortt mentioned. "I am calling on Gov. Hochul and Senate Democrats to cease hiding from the reality and be a part of me in demanding Brian Benjamin's resignation."
Spokespeople for Hochul, Senate Chief Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Meeting Speaker Carl Heastie did not instantly present remark Tuesday when requested if Benjamin ought to resign.
If Benjamin resigns, he would nonetheless seemingly seem on the poll for the 2022 gubernatorial Democratic major even when Hochul picks a brand new lieutenant governor, in line with state elections regulation.
"There are solely 3 ways to get off the poll: demise, declination or disqualification," State board of elections spokesperson John Conklin mentioned in an e-mail.
Benjamin was the state's second Black lieutenant governor. Throughout his state Legislature profession, he emphasised felony justice reform and reasonably priced housing. His district included most of central Harlem, the place he was born and raised by Caribbean immigrant mother and father.
He has a bachelor's diploma in public coverage from Brown College and a grasp's of enterprise administration from Harvard Enterprise Faculty, and labored as a developer of reasonably priced housing.
The scandal is the newest in a protracted historical past of lawmakers and different Albany leaders who've been engulfed in allegations of wrongdoing.
Cuomo's resignation as governor got here not solely amid allegations of sexual harassment however that his administration misrepresented the variety of New Yorkers who died in nursing properties from COVID-19.
In 2008, then-Gov. Eliot Spitzer resigned amid a prostitution investigation.
Former New York Meeting Speaker Sheldon Silver, probably the most highly effective figures in state authorities, resigned in 2015 after he was arrested on federal corruption fees. His conviction ended a four-decade profession within the Meeting. After his first conviction was thrown out, he was convicted once more in 2018. He died in federal custody in January.
Former Republican state Senate Majority Chief Dean Skelos, who for a time shared energy with Silver, was convicted of extortion, wire fraud and bribery. Skelos' case moved via the courts across the identical time as Silver's.
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Hays reported from New York. Related Press writers Deepti Hajela and Larry Neumeister contributed from New York and Michael Hill contributed from Albany.
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