NEW YORK (AP) — Federal prosecutors on Friday dropped bribery and fraud charges against former New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin, citing the death of a cooperating witness against the Democrat who the governor had once chosen to be her second-in-command.

"Today's vindication of Brian Benjamin is a timely reminder of the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr's famous words: "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice,'" Benjamin's lawyers Barry Berke, Dani James and Darren LaVerne said in a joint statement. "We always believed this day would come."

Brian Benjamin had been accused of funneling state money to a real estate developer in exchange for campaign contributions. A key witness in the case has died.

U.S. prosecutors drop bribery charges against New York's former lieutenant governor, citing the death of a key witness

Federal prosecutors on Friday dropped bribery and fraud charges against former New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin, citing the death of a cooperating witness against the Democrat who the governor had once chosen to be her second-in-command.

Federal prosecutors are ending the bribery case against former New York Lieutenant Gov. Brian Benjamin, in light of the death of a key witness, reported The New York Times on Friday. This decision "lifts a cloud that has followed Mr.

Federal prosecutors are dropping a corruption case against former New York Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin. The Democratic politician faced bribery and wire