A federal appeals court on Friday reinstated bribery and fraud charges against former New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin.
The decision by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan reversed a December 2022 ruling by a lower-court judge that wiped out the bulk of the case against the Democrat, leaving only records falsification charges.
The appeals court said in its written decision that a jury could infer from the alleged facts in the case that Benjamin promised to perform an official act in exchange for monetary payments.
The ruling pertained to Benjamin's dealings with a real estate developer who contributed to his campaign.
The three-judge panel that ruled in the case said Benjamin had fair warning that his alleged agreement with the developer "was illegal and that it would not become legal if he simply avoided memorializing it expressly in words or in writing."
Benjamin's lawyer, Barry Berke, did not immediately return a message seeking comment. A spokesperson for prosecutors declined comment.
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Bribery, fraud charges reinstated against former New York Lt. Governor Benjamin
A federal appeals court on Friday reinstated bribery and fraud charges against former New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin.
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