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ew York's former lieutenant governor, Brian Benjamin, has been cleared of corruption charges tied to a deceased real estate developer. Federal prosecutors dropped the bribery case against him last week, citing a lack of evidence to prove their claims. This decision comes after the Supreme Court declined to dismiss the case just last month.

    Benjamin was initially accused of steering state money to campaign contributors in exchange for fraudulent donations. A key witness, Gerald Migdol, had pleaded guilty to a bribery scheme and implicated Benjamin in the scandal. However, a federal judge later dismissed some charges against Benjamin, ruling that his alleged actions weren't a crime.

    Migdol's death last year removed a crucial piece of evidence from the case. Despite this setback for prosecutors, they successfully appealed the ruling that dropped some charges. Benjamin maintained his innocence throughout the ordeal and thanked prosecutors after the case was dropped. He has previously hinted at a possible return to public life once his legal issues were resolved.

    Benjamin's resignation under pressure in 2022 marked the beginning of a three-year saga that has finally come to an end.