NY Lt. Governor & Brown University Grad Benjamin Resigns Following Arrest

NY Lt. Governor & Brown University Grad Benjamin Resigns Following Arrest

On Tuesday morning, New York Lt. Gov. Brian A. Benjamin -- who had served as a Brown University board of trustees member -- has been arrested on campaign finance and bribery charges. 

By Tuesday afternoon, he had stepped down, submitting his resignation to New York Governor Kahty Hochul hours later.

"I have accepted Brian Benjamin’s resignation effective immediately. While the legal process plays out, it is clear to both of us that he cannot continue to serve as Lieutenant Governor. New Yorkers deserve absolute confidence in their government, and I will continue working every day to deliver for them," Hochul said in a statement.

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As GoLocal reported, some of the charges are linked to trips to Providence supposedly for Brown meetings that were initially paid for by his campaign account and then were reimbursed. 

"Mr. Benjamin completed his regular term as a trustee on the Corporation of Brown University on June 30, 2021. Brown has no further information about anything related to the case described in media reports," said Brown spokesperson Brian Clark in response to a GoLocal inquiry.