FBI Probing Possible Campaign Fraud Ties to NY Lt. Gov Brian Benjamin
By: Benyamin Davidsons
New York State’s Lieutenant Governor, Brian Benjamin, may possibly have played role in an effort to funnel fraudulent contributions to his failed bid for New York City comptroller in 2021.
As reported by the NY Times, subpoenas have been issued to the Lt. Gov.’s campaign advisers and the State Senate. While Mr. Benjamin has not been accused of wrongdoing at this time nor named in the indictment, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and federal prosecutors are probing whether he shared a role in the fraud. Late last year, a federal indictment charged a Harlem real estate investor, Gerald Migdol, with wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and other crimes.
Mr. Migdol, who has been a longtime supporter of Mr. Benjamin, was accused of masterminding a scheme to misrepresent or hide dozens of illegal contributions to Mr. Benjamin’s campaign, thereby increasing the amount of public matching funds the politician received. Subsequently, prosecutors from NY’s Southern District issued several grand jury subpoenas seeking records from Mr. Benjamin’s campaign committee to see whether they had knowledge of the plan. The prosecutors were asking for documents on Mr. Migdol, campaign fund-raising records and info on how involved Mr. Benjamin was in money raising efforts for the campaign.
In recent weeks, the State Senate also got subpoenas seeking records about Mr. Benjamin and discretionary state funding which he helped direct to his district during his time as a senator, as per sources for the Times, who did not wish to be named. Mr. Benjamin had served in the Senate representing Harlem from 2017 till he was chosen as Lt. Gov. by Governor Kathy Hochul. The state Subpoenas were first reported on Friday.
The Daily News also reported that subpoenas were sent to the Division of the Budget and to the Dormitory Authority, which oversees state funding programs which lawmakers use to direct funds into pet projects for their districts. The investigation seems to also be probing whether Mr. Benjamin in any way directed state funding in a way which may have benefited Mr. Migdol. The probe is being conducted by federal prosecutors who deal in matters involving government officials and agents from one of the F.B.I.’s public corruption squads in New York.
It is too soon to say whether or not there will be any charges made against Mr. Benjamin. At any rate, though, the investigation does not represent the lieutenant governor well, as the second in command in the state, nor is it complimentary for Gov. Hochul—particularly as she gears up for the June primaries with many other Democrats running for her position.
