A federal judge in Manhattan ruled that prosecutors failed to demonstrate an “explicit quid pro quo” that must underpin the bribery charges against Mr. Benjamin.
An initial 63-page background check revealed two red flags in Mr. Benjamin’s past, but it failed to turn up a subpoena issued to his political campaign.
The case against Brian Benjamin, who resigned as New York’s second-in-command last week, may hinge on whether political contributions in this case constituted a bribe.
Gerald Migdol, a Harlem developer, became the linchpin in a federal investigation that led to the indictment and resignation of Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin.