Stefanik calls for NY lieutenant governor to resign after arrest on bribery charges

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., is asking for her state’s lieutenant governor to resign after he was arrested and charged with a number of offenses, together with bribery.

Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin was indicted by a federal grand jury for an alleged “scheme” of soliciting marketing campaign donations in trade for a grant when he was a state senator operating for comptroller. Stefanik says the case is an instance of issues within the “corrupt cesspool of Albany” and in Gov. Kathy Hochul’s administration.

NY LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ARRESTED ON BRIBERY CHARGES

“The corruption within the Hochul administration is exhibiting. However simply final week, Hochul selected to show a blind eye to Benjamin’s felony exercise and stood by her handpicked alternative for Lieutenant Governor amongst severe allegations of bribery and corruption,” Stefanik mentioned in a press release posted to social media. 

“New Yorkers deserve full accountability for Lt. Gov. Benjamin’s crimes and for Governor Hochul’s corrupt complicity,” Stefanik continued. “Benjamin ought to resign from workplace, and Governor Hochul should even be held accountable to New Yorkers.”

The indictment alleges that Benjamin deliberately hid his actions whereas he was being vetted for his present place. Prosecutors say he falsely acknowledged that he had by no means “immediately exercised” his authority as an official “regarding a matter of a donor [he] immediately solicited.” 

Hochul was requested in regards to the arrest in a press briefing about Tuesday’s Brooklyn subway taking pictures. She mentioned she could be releasing a press release “shortly.”