{"id":422595,"date":"2022-03-28T07:09:15","date_gmt":"2022-03-28T04:09:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/nys-lt-gov-brian-benjamin-questioned-about-shady-campaign-donor\/"},"modified":"2022-03-28T07:09:15","modified_gmt":"2022-03-28T04:09:15","slug":"nys-lt-gov-brian-benjamin-questioned-about-shady-campaign-donor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/nys-lt-gov-brian-benjamin-questioned-about-shady-campaign-donor\/","title":{"rendered":"#NYS Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin questioned about &#8216;shady campaign donor&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a35d2a34c62a\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a35d2a34c62a\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/nys-lt-gov-brian-benjamin-questioned-about-shady-campaign-donor\/#%E2%80%9CNYS_Lt_Gov_Brian_Benjamin_questioned_about_%E2%80%98shady_campaign_donor%E2%80%9D\" >&#8220;NYS Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin questioned about &#8216;shady campaign donor&#8217;&#8221;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1>&#8220;NYS Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin questioned about &#8216;shady campaign donor'&#8221;<\/h1>\n<div>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignleft\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin was questioned by the feds amid a reported probe into whether he was allegedly involved in a scheme to illegally funnel contributions to his failed campaign for city comptroller last year. <\/p>\n<p>Benjamin admitted to The Post that he was interviewed earlier this year in connection with the conspiracy and wire fraud charges filed in November against Harlem landlord and lawyer Gerald Migdol, who\u2019s accused of making illegal, \u201cstraw\u201d donations to Benjamin\u2019s campaign.<\/p>\n<p>Benjamin, a former state senator from Harlem and supporter of the \u201cdefund the police\u201d movement, was vague on the details of his sit-down with federal law enforcement authorities and said that neither he nor Hochul was under investigation.<\/p>\n<p>Benjamin, who made those remarks last week, claimed Sunday that they were \u201coff the record.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Benjamin, who is referred to as \u201cCandidate-1\u201d in Migdol\u2019s indictment, has not been charged with any wrongdoing.<\/p>\n<p>But a report Sunday said Manhattan federal prosecutors issued several grand jury subpoenas late last year for fundraising records related to Migdol and several associates from Benjamin\u2019s campaign committee, several paid staffers and consulting firms.<\/p>\n<p>The investigation is seeking to determine how deeply Benjamin was involved in his campaign\u2019s fundraising operation, according to the New York Times, which cited three unidentified sources with direct knowledge of the matter.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/03\/lt-gov-benjamin-fbi-792.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, accompanied by Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin, left, speaks before signing the &quot;Less is More&quot; law.\" class=\"wp-image-21682093\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/03\/lt-gov-benjamin-fbi-792.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/03\/lt-gov-benjamin-fbi-792.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/03\/lt-gov-benjamin-fbi-792.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Gov. Kathy\u00a0Hochul picked Benjamin as her Lt. Governor after Cuomo resigned.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">AP\/Richard Drew<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>A source close to Benjamin\u2019s campaign for comptroller confirmed to The Post that the committee had received federal subpoenas last fall.<\/p>\n<p>More recently, prosecutors also began seeking records from the state Senate related to discretionary spending he directed to his former district, the Times said, citing two officials briefed on that subpoena.<\/p>\n<p>Benjamin served in the Senate from 2017 until September, when newly minted Gov. Kathy Hochul picked him as her No. 2 following the resignation of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo over a sexual harassment scandal.<\/p>\n<p>Hochul and Benjamin, both Democrats, are seeking full-four years terms in the November elections.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/03\/220304_Yang_NYP___Adams_Mask_Mandate_18-1.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21682098\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/03\/220304_Yang_NYP___Adams_Mask_Mandate_18-1.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=2048 2048w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/03\/220304_Yang_NYP___Adams_Mask_Mandate_18-1.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1536 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/03\/220304_Yang_NYP___Adams_Mask_Mandate_18-1.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/03\/220304_Yang_NYP___Adams_Mask_Mandate_18-1.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Benjamin\u00a0was interviewed earlier this year in connection with the conspiracy and wire fraud charges against Harlem landlord and lawyer Gerald Migdol, who is accused of making \u201cstraw\u201d donations to Benjamin\u2019s campaign.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Stephen Yang<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Migdol allegedly funneled more than $2,000 in small donations to Benjamin\u2019s comptroller campaign so the candidate could qualify for taxpayer-financed matching funds from the city Board of Elections, according to his Manhattan federal court indictment.<\/p>\n<p>He also personally donated $400 to Benjamin, city campaign-finance records show.<\/p>\n<p>Migdol has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him, which carry more than 40 years in prison, and is free on a $250,000 bond.<\/p>\n<p>The longtime Democratic donor \u2014 who hosted a 2000 US Senate fundraiser for Hillary Clinton and backed her 2016 presidential campaign \u2014 was scheduled to <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>ear in court for a status conference last month.<\/p>\n<p>But it was postponed until April 15 at the request of prosecutors \u201cto permit additional time for the parties to discuss the case,\u201d court records show.<\/p>\n<p>During a pretrial conference in December, a prosecutor twice said both sides were working \u201ctoward a disposition,\u201d without elaborating.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/03\/220304_Yang_NYP___Adams_Mask_Mandate_19-1.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"NY Lt. Governor Brian Benjamin speaks at the press conference. \" class=\"wp-image-21682103\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/03\/220304_Yang_NYP___Adams_Mask_Mandate_19-1.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=2048 2048w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/03\/220304_Yang_NYP___Adams_Mask_Mandate_19-1.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1536 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/03\/220304_Yang_NYP___Adams_Mask_Mandate_19-1.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/03\/220304_Yang_NYP___Adams_Mask_Mandate_19-1.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Migdol allegedly funneled more than $2,000 in small donations to Benjamin\u2019s comptroller campaign.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Stephen Yang<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>It\u2019s unclear if Migdol is cooperating against Benjamin but at least two of the subpoenas that appear tied to the investigation of him were issued shortly after Migdol\u2019s arrest, the Times said, citing sources with knowledge of the matter.<\/p>\n<p>The Benjamin probe is reportedly also being conducted by the same assistant US attorneys who are prosecuting Migdol. <\/p>\n<p>Veteran election lawyer Jerry Goldfeder, who\u2019s part of Migdol\u2019s defense team and is <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/general\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"3\" title=\"General\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">general<\/a>ly very chatty with reporters, declined to say what kind of deal was being negotiated.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m not going to discuss my clients with you,\u201d Goldfeder said repeatedly.<\/p>\n<p>In January 2021, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thecity.nyc\/2021\/1\/4\/22214373\/brian-benjamin-comptroller-contributions\">The City website<\/a> reported that Benjamin received a $250 donation from Migdol\u2019s grandson, then 2, who was listed on campaign finance documents as a \u201cstudent.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Benjamin pledged to return the toddler\u2019s donation and those from 22 other people, including Migdol\u2019s wife, after The City reported they were made by an inter<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">media<\/a>ry, Michael \u201cMic\u201d Murphy.<\/p>\n<p>Murphy, who <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=0wqUDylYcnY\">sang the \u201980s synth-pop hit<\/a> \u201cDon\u2019t Disturb This Groove,\u201d is the treasurer of <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fpsh.nyc\/our-team\">Migdol\u2019s\u00a0nonprofit <\/a>\u201cFriends of Public School Harlem,\u201d according to its latest tax-exempt filing.<\/p>\n<p>He didn\u2019t immediately return a request for comment.<\/p>\n<p>A spokesperson for Manhattan US Attorney Damian Williams declined to comment.<\/p>\n<p><em>Additional reporting by Ben Feuerherd<\/em>\n                        <\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News<\/a> articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2022\/03\/28\/nys-lt-gov-brian-benjamin-questioned-about-shady-campaign-donor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;NYS Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin questioned about &#8216;shady campaign donor&#8217;&#8221; Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin was questioned by the feds amid a reported probe into whether he was allegedly involved in a scheme to illegally funnel contributions to his failed campaign for city comptroller last year. Benjamin admitted to The Post that he was interviewed earlier&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":422596,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/03\/benjamin-1.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=1024","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[70897],"tags":[127251,71127,10701,74839,70948,70358,98806,73947,71756,70690,80169,120495],"class_list":["post-422595","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-3-28-22","tag-campaign-contributions","tag-democrats","tag-fundraising","tag-harlem","tag-investigations","tag-kathy-hochul","tag-landlords","tag-lawyers","tag-manhattan-federal-court","tag-nonprofits","tag-ny-governors-race-2022"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/422595","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=422595"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/422595\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/422596"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=422595"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=422595"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=422595"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}