Statement from NYS Senator Daphne Jordan (R,C,I-Halfmoon) on the arrest of Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin

Today’s news that New York State Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin has been arrested and charged with involvement in a campaign fraud scheme comes as no surprise. As I publicly said on March 1, as State Senator, Brian Benjamin reportedly misused and abused taxpayer refunds over a dozen times, engaging in the fraudulent practice of double-dipping at taxpayers’ expense. I said then that we needed an independent investigation into his alleged pattern of misdeeds. We still do.

Governor Hochul has continually expressed her support for Lieutenant Governor Benjamin. It’s abundantly clear that we cannot count on the Executive Branch to review this matter in a thorough, unbiased manner. We urgently need a truly independent investigation into Lieutenant Governor Benjamin’s reported pattern of corruption and these latest charges. If found guilty, he must resign his office