Federal prosecutors in Manhattan announced Friday that they would dismiss the bribery case against Brian A. Benjamin, New York’s former lieutenant governor, citing the death of a crucial witness.
Benjamin, a Democrat, was first charged in April 2022. Prosecutors had accused him of steering state funds to a real estate developer in exchange for campaign contributions—a case that led to his resignation and derailed his political career.
Despite the Supreme Court’s refusal to dismiss the case in December, which suggested Benjamin would go to trial, prosecutors have now determined they cannot proceed. In a letter to Judge J. Paul Oetken, they explained that the death of the key witness, developer Gerald Migdol, made proving their allegations unfeasible.
Mr. Migdol, who had pleaded guilty to related charges and was cooperating with authorities, passed away in February.
