From [HERE] New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin resigned Tuesday after being arrested in connection with an alleged bribery scheme and coverup while he was being vetted to join the administration of Gov. Kathy Hochul. 

Mr. Benjamin, a Democrat, surrendered to federal authorities Tuesday morning, and Ms. Hochul announced shortly after 5 p.m. that she had accepted his resignation. Mr. Benjamin pleaded not guilty to five criminal counts including bribery, honest-services wire fraud and falsification of records.

In a statement, Ms. Hochul said it wouldn’t be possible for Mr. Benjamin to remain in office while the legal process played out. 

“New Yorkers deserve absolute confidence in their government, and I will continue working every day to deliver for them,” the Democratic governor said in a statement.

The events are a blow to her bid to win a full term in office this year, political observers said. Candidates for governor and lieutenant governor run separately in the June 28 party primary, which means Ms. Hochul could be placed on a ticket with a running mate who doesn’t share her political philosophy.

U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, a Republican candidate, said the indictment of Mr. Benjamin showed what Mr. Zeldin described as Ms. Hochul’s terrible judgment.

As recently as last week, Ms. Hochul said Mr. Benjamin had what she said was her utmost confidence and was cooperating fully with the investigation.

Prosecutors said the alleged scheme stretched from 2019 to 2021, when Mr. Benjamin represented Harlem in the New York state Senate and made an unsuccessful bid for New York City comptroller.

At a news conference Tuesday, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams called the indictment a simple story of corruption in which Mr. Benjamin used his position as a state senator to procure a $50,000 state grant in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from a real-estate developer. 

Mr. Benjamin then attempted to cover up the alleged scheme by repeatedly lying on vetting forms he filled out before he became lieutenant governor. 

“Taxpayer money for campaign contributions,” Mr. Williams said. “Quid pro quo. This for that. That’s bribery, plain and simple.”

Michael Driscoll, the special agent in charge of the New York branch of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, said the probe was a continuing investigation.

Mr. Benjamin said during a press conference last week that he received a subpoena last summer, before his appointment as lieutenant governor, but didn’t inform Ms. Hochul. Mr. Benjamin said the New York State Police did a thorough investigation into his background before his appointment.

The Harlem real-estate developer identified in the indictment as co-conspirator 1 is Gerald Migdol, according to people familiar with the matter. Mr. Migdol was indicted in connection to the alleged scheme last November and is cooperating with the investigation, the people said. A lawyer for Mr. Migdol didn’t respond to a request for comment. 

Messrs. Migdol and Benjamin met in 2017, according to the indictment. Mr. Migdol supported community events promoted by Mr. Benjamin, and Mr. Benjamin attended events connected to Mr. Migdol and his nonprofit, the indictment said.

In March 2019, during a meeting at Mr. Migdol’s residence, Mr. Benjamin said he intended to run for comptroller and wanted the developer to obtain donations, prosecutors said. When Mr. Migdol balked at the idea, Mr. Benjamin said, according to prosecutors, “Let me see what I can do.”