New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin was arrested on expenses associated to a marketing campaign finance fraud investigation, two individuals conversant in the matter told NBC New York.
Benjamin surrendered to authorities and is predicted to look in a federal court docket in New York Metropolis later Tuesday, the sources stated.
His arrest comes after experiences that Manhattan federal prosecutors and the FBI had been investigating whether or not Benjamin knowingly engaged in a marketing campaign finance fraud scheme. They had been additionally wanting into whether or not Benjamin, in alternate, helped distribute state cash to contributors and their initiatives.
The investigation was sparked by the arrest Benjamin’s fundraiser, Gerald Migdol, in November, in line with NBC New York. Migdol is charged with wire fraud in reference to an alleged marketing campaign fraud scheme linked to previous Benjamin fundraising.
Benjamin, who was appointed lieutenant governor by Gov. Kathy Hochul in 2021, has not publicly addressed the allegations.
When requested beforehand in regards to the investigation, his workplace referred again to a Nov. 19 press assertion issued after Migdol was arrested.
“Neither Lieutenant Governor Benjamin nor his marketing campaign are being accused of any wrongdoing and they’re ready to totally cooperate with authorities,” his workplace stated on the time. “As quickly because the marketing campaign found that these contributions had been improperly sourced, they donated them to the Marketing campaign Finance Board, pursuant to steerage obtained from the CFB.”
Hochul’s workplace didn’t instantly return a request for remark about Benjamin’s arrest.
It is a growing story. Please examine again for updates.
