Gov. Kathy Hochul is vetting candidates for a new partner as Benjamin takes himself off the ballot in the primary election.
Her choice — and attempt at a reset — imploded last month when her pick, Brian Benjamin, resigned after his arrest on corruption charges.
Hochul has said Benjamin’s April 12 arrest surprised her. She dismissed questions Monday about how carefully she vetted Benjamin, a former state senator, pointing to the tight timeframe she had to find a second-in-command after then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigned in August and she took his place. The state Senate and Assembly approved legislation Monday to allow candidates to decline their spot on the ballot if they’ve since been charged with or convicted of crimes.
“I am innocent of these unsubstantiated charges. However, I would be unable to serve under these circumstances,” Benjamin said in a statement posted to Twitter. Hochul’s office didn’t immediately provide answers to questions Monday about when she will announce her new running mate.
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