Federal Prosecutors Drop Bribery Case Against Former NY Lieutenant Governor Brian A. Benjamin

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan announced on Friday they would drop bribery charges against Brian A. Benjamin, New York’s former lieutenant governor, following the death of a key witness, Gerald Migdol. This decision marks a significant turn in a case that had cast a shadow over Mr. Benjamin’s political career since April 2022.

The case against Mr. Benjamin, a Democrat, alleged he had funneled state funds to a real estate developer’s nonprofit in exchange for illegal campaign contributions. The accusations were made public in a high-profile press conference, forcing Mr. Benjamin to resign and effectively halting his political trajectory. While the Supreme Court had refused to dismiss the case in December, Mr. Benjamin seemed poised to face trial until the unexpected development of Mr. Migdol’s death. For more updates check our Youtube channel.

In a letter to Judge J. Paul Oetken, prosecutors stated they could no longer meet the burden of proof without the testimony of Mr. Migdol, who had pleaded guilty to related charges and was cooperating with authorities before his death in February.

 “Based on a review of the evidence in the case, and in light of the death of cooperating witness and co-defendant Gerald Migdol,” they wrote, “the government has determined that it can no longer prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, the charges in the indictment.”

Mr. Benjamin maintained his innocence throughout the legal ordeal. In a statement, he expressed gratitude for the case’s dismissal, describing the experience as a “painful journey” but emphasizing his pride in representing both his State Senate district and the state with integrity.

His legal team, comprised of Barry H. Berke, Dani R. James, and Darren LaVerne of Gibson Dunn, celebrated the dismissal as a “vindication,” quoting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” The attorneys disclosed they had met with prosecutors earlier in the week to request the case’s dismissal before the current administration’s term ended.

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