Sources: Feds subpoena for info related to Lt. Gov. Benjamin's past campaign
Lieutenant governor Brian Benjamin spearing during the service at the Islamic Cultural Center of the Bronx Sunday Jan. 16, 2022.. Bronx funeral for 15 of the fire victims Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
ALBANY — Federal investigators have subpoenaed the State Senate and campaign officials as part of an investigation involving campaign donations and Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin’s unsuccessful 2021 bid for New York City comptroller, sources confirmed.
The subpoena is seeking documents and other information from when Benjamin was a state senator and was running for comptroller last year, one source said.
Another source confirmed the lieutenant governor spoke with investigators months ago.
These are the latest developments in a federal probe that was revealed last fall involving Gerald Migdol, a donor to Benjamin’s campaign.
Migdol, a real estate investor, was indicted on wire fraud and other charges for allegedly concealing contributions to Benjamin’s campaign to circumvent contribution limits and pump up fundraising totals to increase matching funds available through the city’s public campaign financing laws. Migdol pleaded not guilty.
Benjamin finished fourth in the comptroller primary.
When Migdol was indicted, a spokesman for Benjamin said: “Neither Lieutenant Governor Benjamin nor his campaign are being accused of any wrongdoing and they are prepared to fully cooperate with authorities. As soon as the campaign discovered that these contributions were improperly sourced, they donated them to the (city) Campaign Finance Board, pursuant to guidance obtained from the CFB."
The New York Daily News first reported the Senate subpoena. The New York Times has reported subpoenas were issued to members of Benjamin’s 2021 campaign, as well as consulting firms. The New York Post reported that Benjamin, in an interview, said he wasn’t under investigation.
Benjamin, 45, was appointed lieutenant governor by Gov. Kathy Hochul after she succeeded Andrew M. Cuomo when he resigned in August after being accused of sexual harassment and other abuses of power.
Previously, Benjamin served four years as a state senator, representing Harlem.
In February, Democrats at their state convention designated Benjamin as their preferred candidate. But he is facing a June primary against former City Councilwoman Diana Reyna and activist Ana Maria Archila.
