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Brian Benjamin

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Brian Benjamin
Benjamin in 2021
Lieutenant Governor of New York
In office
September 9, 2021 – April 12, 2022
GovernorKathy Hochul
Preceded byAndrea Stewart-Cousins (acting)
Succeeded byAndrea Stewart-Cousins (acting)
Member of the New York State Senate
from the 30th district
In office
June 5, 2017 – September 9, 2021
Preceded byBill Perkins
Succeeded byCordell Cleare
Personal details
Born (1976-12-09) December 9, 1976 (age 47)
Manhattan, New York, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseCathleen Benjamin
Children2
EducationBrown University (BA)
Harvard University (MBA)

Brian A. Benjamin (born December 9, 1976)[1] is an American politician and businessman who was the lieutenant governor of New York from September 2021 until he resigned on April 12, 2022. A member of the Democratic Party, he represented the 30th district in the New York State Senate from 2017 to 2021.

A political progressive,[2][3] Benjamin was first elected to the New York State Senate in a May 2017 special election. During his Senate tenure, Benjamin was the senior assistant majority leader chaired the Senate Committee on Budget and Revenue.

On August 26, 2021, Governor Kathy Hochul appointed him to the post of lieutenant governor of New York. She had vacated the position when she was sworn in as governor of New York after Governor Andrew Cuomo resigned. On April 12, 2022, Benjamin resigned after being indicted earlier that day on federal wire fraud and bribery charges, to which he pleaded not guilty. The case is pending.

Early life and education

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Benjamin was born in Harlem Hospital in Harlem, New York City, the son of Caribbean immigrants who worked union jobs.[4] He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in public policy from Brown University and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.[5]

Career

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Business

[edit]

Benjamin interned in the office of Bill Lynch & Associates. He was an alumni-elected trustee of Brown University[6] and spent three years at Morgan Stanley as an investment advisor.[7][2][8]

Benjamin was an early supporter of Barack Obama's presidential campaign in 2007.[9] It has falsely been alleged that he was a co-founder of "Harlem4Obama," which helped encourage Harlem support for the then-Senator. Although Benjamin hosted a fundraiser for him in 2008, Harlem4Obama was co-founded by Michael Washington and Julius Tajiddin in the spring of 2007. Benjamin has said that after Obama's election, the infrastructure of "Harlem4Obama" contributed to Benjamin's organization, called "Young Professionals United for Change (YP4C)," which instituted a mentoring program at the Wadleigh School and organized young people.[10][11][12] In 2012, Benjamin was an Obama delegate to the Democratic National Convention and raised money for his reelection.[13]

In 2010, Benjamin became a managing partner at Genesis Companies, a minority business enterprise building affordable housing in Harlem.[14][15] Involved in the purchase and redevelopment of deteriorating buildings from Abyssinian Development Corporation, Benjamin helped steer redevelopment and repair work to as many vendors as possible.[16] He was also involved with partnerships with First Corinthians Baptist Church in creating the Dream Center on 119th and the Hope Center on 114th.[17][18][better source needed]

In 2016, Benjamin became the Chair of Manhattan Community Board 10 in Central Harlem in Manhattan.[19] In that capacity, he opposed a redevelopment plan that included towers, two-story retail spaces, an underground garage, and a community park, siding with tenants.[20][21][22]

In 2017, when Benjamin was the managing partner of the Genesis Companies real estate firm in Harlem, and at the same time on the verge of becoming the New York State Senate Democratic nominee, his firm was sued by its co-investor in a legal dispute over an alleged scheme to divert revenue from a fire sale by Abyssinian Development to the investors of 31 properties.[23] A Manhattan Supreme Court judge issued a preliminary injunction, freezing the assets until the dispute was settled.[23] Genesis Companies denied the allegations, and the case went to arbitration.[24]

New York Senate

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In 2017, New York State Senator Bill Perkins ran for and won a vacant seat on the New York City Council. Benjamin then ran to succeed him in Harlem's District 30 in the NY State Senate.[25]

Benjamin during his 2017 campaign

New York law provides that special elections for state seats do not have open primaries; instead, party candidates are chosen by the local county committees.[26] Three candidates seeking the Democratic nomination—district leaders Rev. Al Taylor and John Ruiz and activist Joyce Johnson—wrote a letter criticizing New York County Chairman Keith L. T. Wright, a close ally of Benjamin, accusing him of "voter suppression" in his bid to install Benjamin in office.[27][26] Benjamin was at the time the fiancé of a woman who had worked in Wright's office.[26] Critics alleged that the process was controlled by Benjamin's allies, including the Manhattan Democratic Party chairman.[27] Benjamin won the Democratic nomination, receiving 170 out of 263 votes (63%) at a convention[where?] in March.[27]

With the district being overwhelmingly Democratic, Benjamin defeated Republican Dawn Simmons and Reform candidate Ruben Dario Vargas with over 91% of the vote in the May 24, 2017, special election: There was very low voter turnout (4%) for the election.[28][29] He was sworn into the seat on June 5, 2017, and pledged to protect progressive values.[3]

2017–2018 session

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The district Benjamin represented in the Senate covered most of central Harlem and included parts of the neighborhoods of East Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Morningside Heights, Washington Heights, the Upper East Side, the Upper West Side, and Yorkville in Manhattan.[30]

In July 2017, shortly after Benjamin's election, the CEO of Benjamin's former employer, Genesis Companies, filed a "reportable business relationship" form with the New York State lobbying and ethics watchdog panel (the Joint Commission on Public Ethics).[31] Genesis stated that it had retained Benjamin as an advisor for $60,000 a year to consult on "real estate development matters" starting in June 2017.[31] Benjamin said he consulted for his former firm but asserted that he was not compensated. Benjamin repeatedly denied receiving any outside income since his election.[32][33][34][35]

Benjamin is known as a political progressive.[2] One of Benjamin's first campaign promises was to seek to close Rikers Island. He introduced a bill to close Rikers in three years.[36][37][38] After violence on Rikers on Thanksgiving Day 2017, Benjamin sent a letter to the State Commission of Correction requesting a report on the state of the facility. The report found that it might be necessary to close Rikers faster to ensure that the constitutional rights of inmates and staff were protected.[39][40] In addition, Benjamin was also a co-sponsor of bills to reform discovery, end cash bail, restore the voting rights of parolees, and end solitary confinement, many of which passed once the Democrats retook the majority.[41][42]

During his campaign for the State Senate, Benjamin campaigned against the rebranding of Harlem as SOHA by real estate forms.[43][44] The SoHa rebranding effort was abandoned.[45][46] During his campaign, Benjamin accepted $2,500 in campaign contributions from a real estate company that owned a South Harlem condominium called "SoHa 118." When he learned they used the term "SoHa", he returned the donation and asked that they change the name.[47]

In 2018, Benjamin urged constituents to keep warm during cold months while serving on the advisory board of Genesis; Genesis received hundreds of complaints from tenants with heating-related problems in their apartments. According to the Daily News, he directed tenants to "contact his office about heat-related issues" and "bragged about holding landlords accountable."[48]

A new purportedly grassroots non-profit organization, "New York 4 Harlem", that actively solicited donations of $500 to $5,000 was reported in 2018 to allegedly have been a front for Benjamin and three other Harlem elected officials.[49] In addition, a flyer organizing a free bus trip to Albany for a conference organized by the NY State Assn. of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators with the New York 4 Harlem name on it featured a picture of Benjamin and the three other officials.[49][50] Nonprofit organizations are not allowed to take part in campaign activity.[49]

Benjamin sponsored a bill to divest New York's Public Pension fund from private prisons.[51] This bill helped push Comptroller DiNapoli, the sole fiduciary of the fund, to divest.[52]

2019–2020 session

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In December 2018, Benjamin was named chair of the Revenue and Budget Subcommittee.[53] In this position, he focused on divesting public and private banks from private for-profit prisons, sponsoring a bill that would push New York State chartered banks, which include many international banks that use New York State charters to operate in the US, to stop investments.[54] The bill passed the Senate in the 2019 and 2020 sessions, and was part of a nationwide movement that pushed many of the largest private banking institutions to drop their investments.[55] The Washington Post reported that Benjamin's legislation was key in getting Bank of America to drop their investments.[56]

The 2019 session also saw the passage of housing reform legislation, including Benjamin's bill to protect keep Rent Stabilized apartments affordable. This and other bills Benjamin co-sponsored where passed as a package entitled the Housing Stability And Tenant Protections Act of 2019.[57] Also in 2019, Benjamin championed a bill that would have allowed felons who had completed their sentences to serve on juries.[58]

In the 2020 session, Benjamin sponsored and passed the Rainy Day Fund bill, that allowed New York City to set aside funds in a revenue stabilization fund. Legislation enacted after past fiscal crises had required the city to balance its budget, making such savings impossible, and so the city was required to cut essential services in times of financial stress.[59] As a result of historic support for police reform, Benjamin also was able to legislation he had been championing including his bill the Eric Garner Anti-Chokehold Act.[60] In December 2020 he joined other senators in announcing the introduction of legislation that significantly limited police no-knock warrants to only the most severe circumstances, and banned their use for drug searches.[61]

2021–2022 session

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In January 2021, Benjamin was named chair of the Committee on Revenue and Budget.[62]

Also that month, Benjamin proposed a bill to make it easier for released ex-convicts to obtain a state-issued ID when they leave jail.[63][25] He also sponsored a bill to change parole laws, so that parole violations such as testing positive for drugs, failing to report, and failing to notify of a change in address would not lead to incarceration.[64] He has tweeted his support for defunding the police.[65]

In January 2021, the New York Daily News reported that Benjamin was earning up to $50,000 a year as a board member of NextPoint, a company led by a Wall Street executive who came under fire for his role in the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis (Andrew Neuberger), and that Benjamin acquired up to $250,000 in NextPoint stock[when?].[66] "This is not a good sign," said housing advocate Cea Weaver.[66] This was in addition to his earning $120,000 a year as a state senator.[66] That month, a coalition of 34 progressive groups hosted a protest outside Benjamin's home and sent a letter to Majority Leader of the New York State Senate Andrea Stewart-Cousins calling for his removal as chair of the Senate Budget and Revenue committee.[67] They argued that his stock holdings and position on the board of NextPoint were unethical conflicts of interest that should disqualify him from presiding over bills dealing with taxation.[67]

Benjamin was the Senate's senior assistant majority leader[when?].[68]

2021 NYC comptroller campaign

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Main article: 2021 New York City Comptroller election

In 2021, Benjamin ran for the Democratic nomination for New York City comptroller. In the Democratic primary he ran against State Senator Kevin Parker, entrepreneur, nonprofit founder, and former US Marine Zach Iscol, City Councilmember Brad Lander, and Assemblymember David Weprin.[69]

Candidates who raised at least $125,000 from at least 500 donors qualified for matching city funds from the New York City Campaign Finance Board, on an 8-to-1 match basis.[70] As of February 16, 2021, Benjamin was one of three candidates who had qualified for these funds.[70] Former governor David Paterson endorsed Benjamin, as did former U.S. Representative Charles Rangel and New York State Senator John Liu.[71]

Lander won the primary, while Benjamin received 11.6% of the vote, placing fourth behind Corey Johnson and CNBC contributor Michelle Caruso-Cabrera.[72]

Lieutenant governor of New York

[edit]

On August 26, 2021, New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed Benjamin to the position of lieutenant governor of New York.[1] Hochul, as lieutenant governor, had become governor two days earlier, following the resignation of Governor Andrew Cuomo; this created a vacancy in the lieutenant governor position.[73][1]

Benjamin was sworn in on September 9, 2021,[74] so that a special election to fill the vacancy in his State Senate seat could be held concurrently with the November general election.[75][76][77] He is the second Black lieutenant governor in the history of the State of New York.[78]

Following his swearing-in, Benjamin stated that he had reimbursed his campaign account for a large payment that was made to an event venue in October 2018, the same month he and his wife held a wedding party. The payment had been questioned by the New York Board of Elections.[74]

Corruption indictment and resignation

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Benjamin was questioned about a dozen instances when Benjamin sought thousands of dollars in travel reimbursements as a state senator while using a campaign account for these expenses, including payments that were made outside the state of New York. After the New York Board of Elections investigated, Benjamin repaid $3,500 in gas expenses to his campaign account. Despite this incident, he later told state police that he had never been contacted by a regulatory body while being vetted for lieutenant governor.[79] In March 2022, The New York Times reported that the FBI was investigating whether Benjamin played a role in funneling fraudulent contributions to his 2021 campaign for New York City Comptroller, and that they would be issuing subpoenas to his campaign advisers.[80]

On April 12, 2022, Benjamin resigned as lieutenant governor after having an federal indictment against him, on charges of bribery, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and falsification of records, was unsealed.[81][82][83] Federal prosecutors allege that in 2019, Benjamin was a state senator, he used his position to steer a $50,000 state grant to a nonprofit, Friends of Public School Harlem, run by Harlem real estate developer and lawyer Gerald Migdol, who in turn arranged thousands of dollars in unlawful "straw donor" campaign contributions to Benjamin's campaign for city comptroller.[84][85] Migdol pleaded guilty to bribery in 2022 and gave evidence against Benjamin.[85] In the indictment, prosecutors also allege that Benjamin falsified campaign-contribution paperwork and provided false information on forms during an August 2021 background check, before his selection as lieutenant governor.[84] He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.[86]

Pretrial motions focused on whether the facts alleged by the prosecution were legally sufficient to allow a jury to find a "corrupt quid pro quo" in accordance with U.S. Supreme Court decisions that narrowly interpreted federal anti-bribery law.[84] On December 6, 2022, U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken dismissed the federal wire fraud and bribery charges against Benjamin, although he denied the defense's motion to dismiss the two counts of falsification of records.[87] In March 2024, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit unanimously reinstated the charges, saying that the charges had "sufficiently alleged an explicit quid pro quo"; the case has not yet come to trial.[84] Migdol died in February 2024; this threw the case into doubt, as Migdol had been anticipated to be the prosecution's key witness.[84][85]

Television

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In 2014, Benjamin appeared in Oprah Winfrey Network's reality television show Love in the City as the boyfriend of a woman who, three years later (when he was a State Senate candidate), alleged that he stole some items from her.[88]

Personal life

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Benjamin and his wife, Cathleen, live in Harlem, New York, with their two daughters.[89]

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Gov. Kathy Hochul officially names her NY lieutenant governor". syracuse.com. August 26, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Max, Ben. "Brian Benjamin Launches Campaign for New York City Comptroller". Gotham Gazette.
  3. ^ a b Campbell, Jon (June 5, 2017). "Tempers flare as NY Senate's Democratic divide deepens". Poughkeepsie Journal.
  4. ^ "About Brian A. Benjamin". NY State Senate. Archived from the original on July 30, 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  5. ^ Cruz, David (September 4, 2021). "Incoming Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin Will Have A Seat At The Table". Gothamist.
  6. ^ "Leadership" (PDF). bulletin.brown.edu. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  7. ^ Murphy, Jarrett (January 27, 2021). "Compt-Roller Derby: Who's Running to Be the City's No. 3?". City Limits.
  8. ^ "Harlem's Benjamin Experienced & Well Qualified in Comptroller Race". December 4, 2020.
  9. ^ "Early Harlem Obama Backer Seeks Open Senate Seat". Manhattan Express. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  10. ^ "Brian Benjamin Launches 'Young Professionals United For Change' To Increase African American Political Engagement". MadameNoire. May 2, 2013. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  11. ^ "Wadleigh Secondary School getting new life with mentoring initiative". Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  12. ^ "#GETCOVERED: Juelz Santana & Friends Encourage Youth To Sign Up For Affordable Care Act (PHOTOS)". Global Grind. March 31, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  13. ^ "Obama coming to the Apollo; fundraiser 'more accessible'". New York Daily News. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  14. ^ "Brian Benjamin: Doing Business in Black Communities for the Benefit of Black People". Black Enterprise. September 19, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  15. ^ "Brian Benjamin – Meet Crain's New York Business Class of 2016 40 Under 40". www.crainsnewyork.com. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  16. ^ Elstein, Aaron. "Rev. Calvin Butts seeks salvation for the church-based organization that resurrected Harlem". Crain's New York Business. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  17. ^ "H.O.P.E. Center (Counseling) | First Corinthian Baptist Church". First Corinthian Baptist Church. First Corinthian Baptist Church. March 28, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  18. ^ "THE DREAM CENTER HARLEM". THE DREAM CENTER HARLEM. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  19. ^ "New kid on the block: Brian Benjamin". Amsterdam News. May 18, 2017.
  20. ^ "Community Board 10 Sides With Tenants in Lenox Terrace Rezoning FIght". DNAinfo New York. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  21. ^ "SoHa: The New Name Realtors Are Using For a Part of Harlem". DNAinfo New York. Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  22. ^ "Community Board 10 Sides With Tenants in Lenox Terrace Rezoning FIght". DNAinfo New York. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  23. ^ a b "Harlem's Abyssinian Development's Fire Sale Sets Off Legal Spat". Harlem World Magazine. March 13, 2017.
  24. ^ Carl Campanile (March 11, 2017). "Struggling firm's property fire sale triggers legal tug-of-war". The New York Post. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  25. ^ a b "Brian Benjamin Wins Special Election for Harlem State Senate Seat – Central Harlem – New York". DNAinfo. Archived from the original on August 29, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  26. ^ a b c Will Bredderman (March 10, 2017). "Harlem Candidates Accuse Democratic Machine of Rigging Contest for State Senate Seat". Observer.
  27. ^ a b c Will Bredderman (March 11, 2017). "Machine-Backed Candidate Wins Battle Over Vacant Harlem Seat". Observer.
  28. ^ Brigid Bergin and Jenny Ye (May 25, 2017). "Single Digit Turnout in Uptown Special Election | New York Public Radio". WNYC.
  29. ^ "Our Campaigns – NY State Senate 30 – Special Race – May 23, 2017". Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  30. ^ "Harlem Special Election Results: Brian Benjamin Wins In Landslide". Harlem, NY Patch. May 23, 2017.
  31. ^ a b Matthew Hamilton; Chris Bragg (October 27, 2017). "After slamming GOP, Senate Democrats quiet on Benjamin's pay". Capitol Confidential.
  32. ^ "New state senator collects consulting cash for former RE firm: report; Ethics watchdog says it poses potential conflicts of interest". The Real Deal New York. October 24, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  33. ^ "After slamming GOP, Senate Democrats quiet on new colleague's pay". Times Union. October 26, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  34. ^ Chris Bragg (October 27, 2017). "New questions on Sen. Brian Benjamin's income arrangement". Capitol Confidential. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  35. ^ Kenneth Lovett (October 30, 2017). "State senator's bill restricts pols from accepting outside income". New York Daily News. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  36. ^ "State Sen. Brian Benjamin moves forward with campaign promise to close Rikers". Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  37. ^ "N.Y. senator pushes bill to shut down Rikers Island in 3 years". New York Daily News. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  38. ^ "NY State Senate Bill S6747". NY State Senate. June 15, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  39. ^ "N.Y. senator calls for state probe of ongoing Rikers violence". New York Daily News. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  40. ^ Foderaro, Lisa W. (February 14, 2018). "New York State May Move to Close Rikers Ahead of City's 10-Year Timeline". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  41. ^ "State Senator Brian A. Benjamin to Outline 2018 Criminal Justice Priorities". NY State Senate. December 27, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  42. ^ Blain, Glenn (June 15, 2017). "N.Y. senator pushes bill forcing NYC to shut down Rikers Island in three years". The New York Daily News.
  43. ^ "Push to discontinue use of 'SoHa' presses on". Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  44. ^ Bellafante, Ginia (July 6, 2017). "SoHa in Harlem? The Misguided Madness of Neighborhood Rebranding". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  45. ^ "Real Estate Company Drops 'SoHa' Branding Amid Backlash". Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  46. ^ "People's Victory: Activists stop effort to rename Harlem south of 125th Street 'SoHa'". Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  47. ^ James Fanelli. "'SoHa' foe got campaign gift from firm that renames neighborhoods". New York Daily News. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  48. ^ James Fanelli. "'Keep warm' pol worked for firm hit with heating complaints". New York Daily News. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  49. ^ a b c "Harlem 'Grassroots' Nonprofit Has Ties To Powerful Politicians Reports NY Post". Harlem World Magazine. February 19, 2018.
  50. ^ Phil Lankers (February 20, 2018). "Harlem Non-Profit Accused Of Secretly Working For Local Politicians". NYC Inquirer. Archived from the original on February 21, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  51. ^ "N.Y. pol to pension fund: Pull out of private prison companies". New York Daily News. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  52. ^ Lovett, Kenneth. "DiNapoli divests N.Y. pension funds from private prison companies". The New York Daily News. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  53. ^ Coltin, Jeff (December 11, 2018). "Some surprises as Senate Democrats announce committee chairs". City & State NY. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  54. ^ Simon, Morgan. "New York Could Become First State To Be Completely Done With Private Prisons". Forbes. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  55. ^ Simon, Morgan. "New York Takes Next Historic Step Away From Private Prisons". Forbes. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  56. ^ Telford, Taylor; Merle, Renae. "Bank of America cuts business ties with detention centers, private prisons". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  57. ^ Plitt, Amy (June 14, 2019). "New York's 'historic,' pro-tenant rent reforms pass with Cuomo's approval". Curbed NY. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  58. ^ Matthew Haicken (July 9, 2020). "INSIGHT: New York Faces the Opportunity to Eliminate Ban on Felon Jury Service". Bloomberg Law.
  59. ^ Khurshid, Samar. "Coronavirus Recession Makes New York City Rainy Day Fund More Urgent, Watchdogs and Legislators Say". Gotham Gazette. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  60. ^ "Gwen Carr calls anti-chokehold act named after son Eric Garner 'step in the right direction'". WPIX. June 13, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  61. ^ Pia Koh (December 18, 2020). "Electeds Introduce Bill to End No-Knock Warrants". New York County Politics.
  62. ^ Reisman, Nick (January 5, 2021). "Senate Democrats Announce Committee Chairs". spectrumlocalnews.com.
  63. ^ Slattery, Denis (January 12, 2020). "New York pol wants to give ex-cons state-issued IDs when they get out of jail". The New York Daily News.
  64. ^ Susan Arbetter (January 28, 2021). ""Less Is More Act" Eliminates Incarceration for Parole Violations". spectrumlocalnews.com.
  65. ^ DeWitt, Karen (August 25, 2021). "Hochul announces Sen. Brian Benjamin as lieutenant governor". WHEC News10NBC.
  66. ^ a b c Gartland, Michael (January 7, 2021). "NYC fiscal watchdog hopeful pulls salary from firm led by notorious subprime exec". The New York Daily News.
  67. ^ a b Edward McKinley (January 27, 2021). "34 progressive groups call for removal of Senate budget committee chair". Capitol Confidential.
  68. ^ Ferré-Sadurní, Luis; Mays, Jeffery C. (August 25, 2021). "Hochul Picks State Senator Brian Benjamin as Lieutenant Governor". The New York Times.
  69. ^ Mays, Jeffery C. (January 27, 2021). "One Candidate Leaves Crowded Mayor's Race. One From 'Housewives' Joins". The New York Times.
  70. ^ a b "City Doles Out Historic Sum Of Taxpayer-Funded Campaign Cash". Gothamist. February 16, 2021. Archived from the original on February 16, 2021.
  71. ^ Balk, Tim. "NYC Comptroller candidate Brian Benjamin nets endorsement from former Rep. Charles Rangel". nydailynews.com.
  72. ^ "DEM Comptroller Citywide". Vote NYC. New York City Board of Elections. July 20, 2021. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  73. ^ "Governor Hochul Announces Selection of Senator Brian Benjamin for Lieutenant Governor". www.governor.ny.gov. August 26, 2021.
  74. ^ a b Gartland, Michael (September 9, 2021). "Brian Benjamin sworn in as N.Y. lieutenant governor but questions loom about wedding, stock". nydailynews.com. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  75. ^ Gov. Hochul Announces Her Pick for Lieutenant Governor, retrieved August 26, 2021
  76. ^ Gartland, Michael; Slattery, Denis. "Gov. Hochul names Sen. Brian Benjamin as New York's next lieutenant governor". nydailynews.com.
  77. ^ "Harlem State Senator Brian Benjamin Chosen For Lt. Governor". wskg.org. August 26, 2021.
  78. ^ Matthews, Karen (September 9, 2021). "Brian Benjamin Is Sworn In as New York Lieutenant Governor". NBC New York. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  79. ^ "Brian Benjamin's ethical controversies". City & State NY. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  80. ^ Fandos, Nicholas (March 28, 2022). "Lt. Gov. Benjamin Is Focus of Federal Inquiry Into Campaign Fraud". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 28, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  81. ^ "NY lieutenant governor resigns after arrest in federal probe". Associated Press. April 12, 2022. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  82. ^ Rashbaum, William K.; Fandos, Nicholas; Mays, Jeffery C. (April 12, 2022). "Lt. Gov. Benjamin Resigns Following Campaign Finance Indictment". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
  83. ^ Moghe, Sonia (April 12, 2022). "NY lieutenant governor indicted on multiple charges". CNN. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  84. ^ a b c d e Benjamin Weiser and Nicholas Fandos, Appeals Court Revives Corruption Case Against Ex-Lieutenant Governor, New York Times (March 8, 2024).
  85. ^ a b c Jeff Coltin & Nick Reisman, Case against ex-LG could get dropped, Politico Playbook New York (February 23, 2024).
  86. ^ "NY lieutenant governor Benjamin pleads not guilty to bribery, related charges". Reuters. April 12, 2022. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  87. ^ "Brian Benjamin partially cleared on federal charges". City & State NY. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  88. ^ "Harlem State Senate Candidate Reality Star Shows It's About The Benjamins". Harlem World. April 18, 2017.
  89. ^ "Lt. Governor Brian Benjamin". www.governor.ny.gov. Archived from the original on September 9, 2021.
[edit]
New York State Senate
Preceded by Member of the New York Senate
from the 30th district
2017–2021 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of New York
2021–2022 		Succeeded by
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