Benjamin, a Democrat, has been charged with participating in a campaign to receive campaign contributions from a real estate developer in exchange for Benjamin’s agreement to use his influence as a state senator to receive a $ 50,000 grant from a non-profit organization. . controlled by the developer. Faced with charges such as bribery, fraud, conspiracy and falsification of records, Benjamin pleaded not guilty on Tuesday in a Manhattan federal court appearance. He was released on $ 250,000 bail. The conditions of his release require restriction of his travels and his return to the state capital in Albany is prohibited. He submitted his resignation to Hochul hours later. “I accepted the resignation of Brian Benjamin immediately. As the legal process unfolds, it is clear to both of us that he can no longer continue to serve as Deputy Governor. “New Yorkers deserve absolute trust in their government and I will continue to work every day to provide for them,” Hotsul said in a statement. Two lawyers representing Benjamin did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Hotsul ousted Benjamin, then a state lawmaker, in September to serve as second in power when he became governor, taking over from Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat. Cuomo resigned amid allegations that he sexually harassed 11 women, which he denied. Hotsul, also a Democrat, was Cuomo’s deputy governor. She is now running for governor in this year’s election, with Benjamin as the candidate. Hotsul did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday when asked who she would choose as her new deputy governor. New York Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins, a Democrat, intervened to take over as deputy lieutenant until Benjamin was appointed. Two months after Benjamin became deputy governor, a real estate developer was accused of directing campaign contributions to Benjamin’s failed bid for New York auditor. Federal authorities have accused Gerald Migdol of conspiracy to commit wiretapping, wiretapping and aggravated identity theft by illegally donating to Benjamin’s campaign. The indictment alleges that Benjamin, a former senator from Haarlem, and others who acted under his direction or on his behalf were also involved in a series of lies and deceptions to cover up the plan, which ran from 2019 to 2021. They falsified campaign donor forms, misled municipal regulators and provided false information on Benjamin’s control forms while he was believed to be appointed deputy governor, the indictment said. Prosecutors had not previously charged Benjamin, and his campaign said at the time of Migdol’s arrest that he had lost any unsuitable donations as soon as they were discovered. More recently, reports have surfaced that Benjamin had been summoned on financial matters, even before Hotsul was appointed deputy governor. Prior to Benjamin’s arrest and resignation, Hotsul had defended him, saying last week that she had “maximum confidence” in him. She said Monday she did not know about the summonses when she made Benjamin her No. 2. State leaders from both major parties had called for Benjamin to resign, including at least 10 of Benjamin’s Democrat colleagues in the Legislature by Tuesday afternoon. Even when he resigns, Benjamin will continue to appear on the ballot for the 2022 Democratic primary, even if Hotsul chooses a new deputy governor, according to state election law. Benjamin was the second black lieutenant governor of the state. During his career in the state legislature, he emphasized criminal justice reform and affordable housing. His district included most of central Haarlem, where he was born and raised by immigrant Caribbean parents. The scandal is the latest in a long history of MPs and other Albany leaders flooded with allegations of wrongdoing. Cuomo’s resignation as governor came not only amid allegations of sexual harassment, but also that his government misinterpreted the number of New Yorkers who died in COVID-19 nursing homes. In 2008, the then Governor. Eliot Spitzer resigned amid a prostitution investigation. Former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, one of the state government’s most powerful figures, resigned in 2015 after being arrested on federal corruption charges. The former leader of the Republican majority in the Senate, Dean Skelos, who for a while shared power with Silver, was convicted of blackmail, wire fraud and bribery.
Hayes reported from New York. Associated Press writers Deepti Hajela, Michelle L. Price and Larry Neumeister contributed from New York and Michael Hill from Albany.
