New York Lt. Gov. Benjamin says his expense 'double dip' fixed
Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin defended getting reimbursed for the same expenses by taxpayers and a past campaign finance account on Friday, saying he had paid back some of the expenses. Benjamin’s campaign spending has been under the microscope for months. Most recently, the Times Union reported that the former state senator charged not only his campaign finance account for certain travel expenses, but billed taxpayers for those same expenses as part of the per diem reimbursements lawmakers are entitled to receive.
“What happened was when I was in the state senate there were times when I had campaign activity that happened right on my way to Albany, or before going to Albany, and I paid my gas on the activity that happened beforehand, and so that is why I made those decisions, but I have reimbursed the campaign for every single gas expense,” Benjamin said after being asked on Friday by the Daily News to explain the expenses. “The reason why I made that decision was because it was based on ‘trailing activity’, but I have before, a couple of months ago, reimbursed the campaign for everything.” Benjamin did not explain what he meant by the term “trailing activity,” and his spokesman did not immediately return messages.
In its story earlier this week, the Times Union found at least 12 examples of Benjamin submitting vouchers for taxpayer reimbursement for trips from the city to Albany, while also using a campaign-issued debit card to pay for gasoline on the same trips.
In January, financial disclosure reports revealed that Benjamin quietly coughed up roughly $25,000 to cover car loan payments and other personal expenses charged to his old Senate campaign account. He also reimbursed the account for a political “non-fund-raising event held at Minton’s Playhouse” in 2018. The event at the Harlem nightclub was held at the same time he and his wife celebrated their wedding at the same venue.
https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/new-york-elections-government/ny-lt-gov-brian-benjamin-state-senate-expenses-double-dipping-20220304-grgfegojrfarpbe5dmijaags24-story.html