Brian Benjamin, the Lieutenant Governor for New York, resigned Tuesday after being charged with bribery, honest services wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit those offenses. Benjamin allegedly directed a state-funded grant to a non-profit controlled by a real estate developer in exchange for campaign contributions. Benjamin is also charged with two counts of falsifying records. 

Following the charges against Benjamin, New York Governor Kathy Hochul said “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.”

Governor Hochul accepted Benjamin’s resignation stating that his resignation would be “effective immediately.”

Governor Hochul, who replaced Andrew Cuomo after Cuomo resigned last summer, appointed Benjamin to the position of Lieutenant Governor. Benjamin served as a state senator representing northern Manhattan until his appointment by Hochul.

In the indictment it states that Benjamin allegedly took part in a scheme, from 2019 to 2021, to obtain campaign donations from an unnamed real estate developer based in Harlem for a non-profit organization controlled by the developer. Benjamin would provide $50,000 in state-granted funds to the developer in exchange for campaign contributions.

Benjamin’s attorneys in a statement released on Tuesday evening said “After today’s charges, Brian will resign his duties as Lieutenant Governor and suspend his campaign.  He will focus his energies on explaining in court why his actions were laudable — not criminal.” They continued to say that Benjamin is looking ahead so he can “rededicate himself to public service” once the case is done.

 US Attorney Damian Williams said:

As alleged, Brian Benjamin used his power as a New York state senator to secure a state-funded grant in exchange for contributions to his own political campaigns. By doing so, Benjamin abused his power and effectively used state funds to support his political campaigns.

The indictment alleges that Benjamin tried to cover up his actions by “engaging in a series of lies and deceptions.” This was allegedly done by “falsifying campaign donor forms, misleading city regulators, and providing false information on vetting forms he completed while seeking to be the Lieutenant Governor of New York State.”

While the real estate developer in Benjamin’s case is unnamed, a developer named Gerald Migdol was criminally charged in November for providing illegal campaign donations to an unnamed candidate for city comptroller. Migdol pleaded guilty to the charges.

On Tuesday, Benjamin was also added as a co-defendant in Migdol’s case.  He has now surrendered to authorities and appeared before a federal judge in New York City. Benjamin is due to appear in court on April 19.