>>> TONIGHT, A TERRIBLE DAY FOR NEW YORK CITY.

A MASS SHOOTING IN THE SUBWAY DEEPENS CONCERNS ABOUT VIOLENCE IN THE CITY.

IN ALBANY, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IS ARRESTED ON BRIBERY CHARGES.

ALL THAT AND MORE AS "METROFOCUS" STARTS RIGHT NOW.

♪♪ >> THIS IS "METROFOCUS" WITH RAFAEL PI ROMAN, JACK FORD AND JENNA FLANAGAN.

"METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- >>> THE PEOPLE OF THE ENTIRE STATE OF NEW YORK STAND WITH THE CITY, THIS COMMUNITY.

WE SAY NO MORE.

NO MORE MASS SHOOTINGS.

NO MORE DISRUPTING LIVES.

NO MORE CREATING HEARTBREAK FOR PEOPLE JUST TRYING TO LIVE THEIR LIVES AS NORMAL NEW YORKERS.

IT HAS TO END.

IT ENDS NOW.

WE ARE SICK AND TIRED OF READING HEADLINES ABOUT CRIME, WHETHER MASS SHOOTINGS OR THE LASS OF A TEENAGE GIRL OR A 13-YEAR-OLD.

IT HAS TO STOP.

I'M COMMITTING THE FULL RESOURCES OF OUR STATE TO FIGHT THIS SURGE OF CRIME, THIS INSANITY THAT'S SEIZING OUR CITY BECAUSE WE WANT TO GET BACK TO NORMAL.

>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF "METROFOCUS."

I'M RAFAEL PI ROMAN.

A SHOOTING IN THE SUBWAY STATION IN SUNSET PARK AT THE HEIGHT OF THE MORNING RUSH HOUR.

THE VIOLENT ATTACK LEFT MULTIPLE PEOPLE INJURED.

THE ATTACK RAISES A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS, INCLUDING, HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?

IS IT SAFE FOR NEW YORKERS TO RIDE THE SUBWAY?

ANOTHER BREAKING STORY.

THE ARREST OF LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BRIAN BENJAMIN ON BRIBERY CHARGES.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS THE STORIES ARE PROFESSOR KIRK BURKHOLTER, PROFESSOR LAW AND DIRECTOR OF THE 21st CENTURY POLICING PROJECT, BILL STANTON, A SAFETY AND SECURITY EXPERT, FORMER NYPD OFFICER AND THE HOST OF THE PODCAST MAX POLITICS.

WELCOME.

IT'S A SAD DAY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> BEN, LET ME START WITH YOU.

AS OF THE TIME OF THE TAPING, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AFTERNOON, WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE ATTACK ON THE 36th STREET AND SUNSET PARK?

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE VICTIMS AND THE NATURE OF THEIR INJURIES?

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE PERPETRATOR?

>> WE ARE -- OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH VICTIMS, BOTH THE DIRECT VICTIMS OF GUNSHOTS AND OTHERS THAT WERE INJURED AND THEN ALSO JUST ON THE SCENE.

THESE ARE PRELIMINARY REPORTS WHO HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE ARE THAT SOMEONE OPENED UP A SMOKE DEVICE OF SOME KIND ON THE TRAIN BEFORE IT GOT TO THE STATION AND THEN BEGAN SHOOTING A GUN, HITTING ROUGHLY TEN PEOPLE.

THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT EXACTLY THE NUMBER OF BOTH GUNSHOT VICTIMS AND VICTIMS OF OTHER INJURIES.

NONE WERE INITIALLY REPORTED TO BE LIFE-THREATENING, THANKFULLY.

AT THE TIME OF THE TAPING, THE SUSPECT IS BELIEVED TO STILL BE AT LARGE BUT IS BEING SOUGHT.

>> BILL, PROFESSOR, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD ABOUT WHAT THE LATEST IS?

>> I WOULD JUST ADD, CERTAINLY THAT THIS WAS A PLANNED ATTACK.

HOW QUICKLY THE SUSPECT IS GOING TO BE APPREHENDED IS DEPENDENT ON HOW WELL OR HOW DEEPLY THAT PLANNING OCCURRED.

HE HAD A GAS MASK.

HE WAS -- WAITED UNTIL -- THOUGHT THE TRAIN WAS PULLING INTO THE STATION RATHER THAN RELEASING THIS AND TAKING THESE ACTIONS WHILE THE TRAIN WAS BETWEEN THE STATIONS.

IT WOULD APPEAR THAT HE CERTAINLY KNEW OR HAD A PLAN OF EGRESS.

THAT'S WHAT WE KNOW RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S SOME -- POLICE COMMISSIONER HAS MENTIONED THIS IS NOT AN ACT OF TERRORISM.

THAT'S MORE OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT DEFINITION.

CERTAINLY, IT WAS AN ACT THAT WAS -- THAT INSPIRD A CERTAIN LEVEL OF TERROR IN FOLKS.

THERE SEEMS TO BE INDICATION AT THIS POINT THE PERSON WAS CONNECTED TO ANY KNOWN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION.

>> BEN, TO YOU, YOU PROBABLY KNOW BEST, EARLY REPORTS SAID THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN TWO PERPETRATORS, BUT RECENT REPORTS, ALMOST ALL REPORTS SAY -- ONLY TALK ABOUT ONE.

DO WE KNOW THAT IT'S ONE PERPETRATOR THEY ARE LOOKING FOR?

WATCHING THE PRESS CONFERENCE LED BY CITY OFFICIALS AND THE GOVERNOR WERE THAT THERE IS ONE PERPETRATOR.

WE WILL HAVE MORE CLARITY AS BOTH THIS DAY AND SUBSEQUENT DAYS UNFOLD.

>> TO FOLLOW UP, BILL, ON WHAT KIRK SAID, CRIME IN THE CITY, THE RISING CRIME AND THE RISING RATES OF GUN VIOLENCE HAVE BEEN A CONCERN OF NEW YORK FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS AND HAS BEEN THE FOCUS OF MAYOR ADAMS SINCE HE TOOK OFFICE.

THAT WAS HIS PRIMARY ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN POINT.

ESPECIALLY IN THE SUBWAY -- HE HAS BEEN FOCUS ON THE SUBWAY.

HE AND THE GOVERNOR HAD A PLAN ON THAT.

LIKE KIRK SAID, THE KIND OF VIOLENCE THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, THAT THE GOVERNOR WAS TALKING ABOUT WAS THOSE COMMITTED BY DERANGED INDIVIDUALS, USUALLY HOMELESS.

OR JUST CRIMINAL SPREES.

NOTHING LIKE THIS.

THIS SEEMS MORE LIKE THE KIND OF CRIME THAT WE WOULD GET TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO.

IT DOES SEEM LIKE A TERRORIST ATTACK.

HOW DO YOU SEE THIS ATTACK, BILL?

>> IT COULD BE A MULTIPLE OF THINGS.

WHAT I DO SEE IS AN INDIVIDUAL OR INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE METHOD METHODICAL.

SOMEONE HAD THE MEANS AND CAPABILITY AND WILLINGNESS TO EXACT THIS CARNAGE, THIS TERRORISTIC ACTIVITY UPON NEW YORKERS.

SHOOTING THEM, CAUSING MASS CASUALTIES.

IS IT TERRORISM?

IS IT MADE TO LOOK LIKE TERRORISM?

IS IT ONE DERANGED INDIVIDUAL?

I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS RIGHT NOW.

IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE THE ACTION AND THE REACTION, BECAUSE REST ASSURED, THERE ARE OTHERS WATCHING THE REACTION OF THE NYPD, OF THE POLITICIANS, AND THE PROSECUTORS, HOW THEY'RE GOING TO HANDLE WHAT'S GOING ON NOW.

>> YOU KNOW, BEN, PART OF THE MAYOR'S PLAN WAS TO INCREASE POLICE PRESENCE IN THE SUBWAY STATIONS.

DO YOU HAVE ANY REPORTS IF THERE WAS ANY POLICE PRESENCE AT THIS PARTICULAR STATION?

>> I DIDN'T SEE DETAILS ON THAT.

THERE MIGHT BE MORE INFORMATION BY THE TIME PEOPLE ARE SEEING THIS.

THIS IS A REMINDER THAT IT'S A COMPLICATED BALANCE THAT ANY MAYOR IS TRYING TO STRIKE IN TERMS OF POLICE PRESENCE IN THE SYSTEM AND AT BUILT TO THWART POTENTIAL ACTIONS LIKE THIS.

IT'S EXTREMELY DIFFICULT SOMETIMES TO PREVENT THESE TYPES OF, ESPECIALLY PREMEDITATED ATTACKS OR RANDOM ATTACKS.

WE HAVE SEEN EVEN WITH AN INCREASE IN POLICE PRESENCE, SOME OF THE VIOLENCE IN THE SUBWAY SYSTEMS CONTINUING TO INCREASE.

IT'S A COMPLICATED BALANCE.

IT'S ALSO -- IT GOES BACK TO WHAT THE MAYOR SAID.

ATTACKING VIOLENCE IN WHATEVER TYPE IT IS REQUIRES A MULTITUDE OF STRATEGIES.

>> PROFESSOR, WHAT IS IN PLACE RIGHT NOW?

IS THERE ANYTHING IN PLACE RIGHT NOW THAT WOULD PREVENT ANYBODY WALKING INTO ANY SUBWAY STATION ARMED WITH A WEAPON OR EXPLOSIVE DEVICE?

>> WELL, IN A WAY, NO.

I KNOW THAT SOUNDS BLEAK.

LET ME CRUNCH THE NUMBERS HERE.

WE HAVE OVER 400, I BELIEVE, SUBWAY STATIONS.

LET'S JUST USE THAT NUMBER, 400 SUBWAY STATIONS.

EACH HAS MULTIPLE EXITS AND SO FORTH.

IF YOU WANT TO PUT A POLICE OFFICER IN EVERY SINGLE SUBWAY STATION AND THERE ARE THREE TOURS DURING A DAY, THAT'S 1,200 POLICE OFFICERS.

EVEN IF YOU PUT A POLICE OFFICER IN EVERY SUBWAY STATION, YOU HAVE A LOT OF GEOGRAPHICAL AREA IN THAT STATION.

YOU PROBABLY NEED TWO POLICE OFFICERS IN EVERY SUBWAY STATION.

THAT'S 2,400 POLICE OFFICERS.

LUCKY FOR US, MOST PEOPLE ARE GOOD PEOPLE.

IT'S NOT THAT THE SUBWAY STATION IS NOTHING LIKE IT WAS DURING THE '70s WHERE YOU TAKE YOUR LIFE IN YOUR OWN HANDS AND SO FORTH.

THE POLICE SIMPLY CAN'T BE EVERYWHERE.

THAT GOES FOR EVERY SINGLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

YOU DO HAVE TO TRUST THE GOOD NATURE OF FOLKS.

PEOPLE NAVIGATE THROUGH THE CITY EVERY DAY.

THEY TREAT EACH OTHER NICELY.

WE ARE SEEING THIS UPTICK IN VIOLENCE.

A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T NECESSARILY FEEL TOO SAFE ON THE TRAIN.

WHAT ARE WE DOING TO PREVENT THIS?

WE'RE TRYING.

YOU CAN'T HAVE -- IT'S ALMOST PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE A POLICE OFFICER THROUGHOUT THE NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT SYSTEM.

>> LET ME TELL YOU MY EXPERIENCE.

I WAS IN CHINA FOUR YEARS AGO.

THERE WASN'T AS MASSIVE POLICE PRESENCE IN THE SUBWAY BECAUSE TO ENTER THE SUBWAY IS LIKE ENTERING AN AIRPORT ANYWHERE IN THIS COUNTRY.

METAL DETECTORS AT ALL THE ENTRANCES.

THE WANDING.

EVERYBODY GOT CHECKED OUT.

IF YOU HAD A BEVERAGE, YOU HAD TO TASTE IT IN FRONT OF THE GUARDS TO MAKE SURE IT WASN'T SOME EXPLOSIVE FLUID.

THAT SEEMS OUTRAGEOUS.

IT DOESN'T TAKE THOUSANDS OF POLICE OFFICERS.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT -- DO YOU SEE US GETTING THERE?

BILL, GO AHEAD.

>> THIS IS WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY.

IT MAY NOT BE POLITICAL IN NATURE.

THERE IS AN UPTICK, IN MY OPINION, IN CRIME.

IT'S NOT THAT COMPLICATED.

BAD GUYS FEEL THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH IT.

WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE SCREAMING DE-FUND THE POLICE, WHERE YOU HAVE PROSECUTORS SAY THEY'RE NOT GOING TO PROSECUTE ON CERTAIN CRIMES, WHEN YOU SEE REVOLVING DOOR JUSTICE, WHETHER IT'S THIS INCIDENT OR OTHERS WHERE PEOPLE ARE GETTING PUSHED ON THE TRACKS, ROBBED, RAPED, WHATEVER, THEY BELIEVE THEY'RE GETTING AWAY WITH IT.

THAT'S THE SIMPLE MATTER.

WHEN BRATTON CAME INTO OFFICE, HE WROTE THAT BOOK "THE TURNAROUND."

JACK MAPLE, REST IN PEACE, HOLDING PRECINCT COMMANDERS ACCOUNTABLE.

GO WHERE THE CRIME IS.

SATURATE THE AREA.

YOU ARREST THE BAD GUYS.

THIS IS SIMPLE MATH, IN MY OPINION.

YOU COULD MAKE IT REALLY COMPLICATED.

IT'S REALLY NOT THAT COMPLICATED.

THE PERSON THAT DID THIS, OBVIOUSLY, DERANGED.

WILL LEARN HIS MOTIVE.

HE WILL GET CAUGHT.

CRIME IS TICKING UP IN NEW YORK CITY BECAUSE THE POLITICIANS AND PROSECUTORS ARE LETTING IT HAPPEN, IN MY OPINION.

>> PROFESSOR, WHEN WE -- WHEN THIS PERPETRATOR IS ULTIMATELY APPREHENDED -- YOU AGREE WITH BILL THIS MAN WILL BE APPREHENDED AND PROBABLY SOON?

SOONER RATHER THAN LATER?

>> I BELIEVE THAT THIS PERPETRATOR WILL BE APPREHENDED.

IN THIS DAY AND AGE WITH THE PROLIFERATION OF VIDEO SURVEILLANCE, DOORBELL CAMERAS, YOU CAN'T WALK DOWN THE STREET WITHOUT BEING VIDEOTAPED 50 TIMES.

I THINK IN NEW YORK, I WOULDN'T BE THE FIRST PERSON TO SAY THIS, BUT ONE OF OUR GREATEST STRENGTHS ARE OUR CITIZENS.

SOMEONE WILL SEE SOMETHING.

THIS IS PLASTERED ALL OVER THE MEDIA.

I THINK IT WILL BE DIFFICULT FOR THIS PERSON TO ALLUDE CAPTURE UNLESS THEY HAD A PLAN TO GET OUT OF TOWN AND GO TO NEW MEXICO OR SOMEWHERE FAR AWAY.

I THINK I'M RATHER CONFIDENT HE WILL BE CAPTURED.

>> I'M AT PROSPECT HEIGHTS.

I HAVE BEEN HEARING HELICOPTERS ALL DAY LONG.

I HAVE GOTTEN WARNINGS ON MY PHONE SAY, STAY AWAY FROM 3rd AVENUE TO 5th AVENUE, 20th STREET TO 40th STREET.

THE GUNS ARE OUT, THAT'S FOR SURE.

TO BILL'S POINT, DO YOU THINK THAT WHEN WE -- WHEN THIS PERPETRATOR IS CAPTURED, THAT WE WILL FIND OUT THAT HE FELT AT -- WE WILL FIND OUT HE FELT EMBOLDENED BECAUSE OF WHAT BILL IS CALLING THE LAX OF POLICE ENFORCEMENT, THE PERCEPTION IN THE CITY AT LEAST?

>> AS FAR AS THIS PERPETRATOR'S MOTIVATION, I WOULDN'T SPECULATE.

IT COULD BE MENTAL ILLNESS.

IT COULD BE SOMEONE THAT FELT EMBOLDENED CERTAINLY.

BUT THERE COULD BE A LOT OF VARIOUS REASONS.

IT'S JUST SO DIFFICULT TO SPECULATE.

I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE -- AS FAR AS THE UPTICK IN CRIME, WE ARE LIVING IN AN ERA WHERE THERE'S A PERFECT STORM OF EVENTS BETWEEN COVID, BETWEEN THE INCIDENTS WHERE FOLKS HAVE PROTESTED AGAINST THE POLICE AND THE CRY FOR POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY, THE POLITICAL WIND.

YOU NAME IT.

I'M A LITTLE HESITANT TO POINT MY FINGER AT ONE PARTICULAR POINT.

I THINK THAT THERE ARE CERTAINLY -- WE ARE SEEING THE CULMINATION OF ALL THESE EVENTS.

I CANNOT DISBELIEVE THAT BEING UNDER LOCKDOWN, SO TO SPEAK WITH COVID AND THE FINANCIAL RAMIFICATIONS AGAINST OUR ECONOMY, HAS NO AFFECT IN THIS WHATSOEVER.

THERE CERTAINLY HAS TO BE.

AS FAR AS THIS PERSON'S MOTIVATION, IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT.

THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN, I WILL SAY, THAN SOME OF THE OTHER -- MOST OF THE OTHER ATTACKS WE HAVE SEEN.

THIS WAS NOT A CRIME FOR FINANCIAL GAIN.

IT WASN'T TO ROB SOMEONE.

IT WASN'T GANG RELATED, SO TO SPEAK.

IT WASN'T SOMEBODY WALKING UP BEHIND SOMEONE AND HITTING THEM OVER THE HEAD, SO TO SPEAK.

THIS WAS A PLANNED ATTACK.

IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S MORE OF THE TYPE OF THING THAT WE WOULD ASSOCIATE WITH ATERRORIST ATTACK OR FERGUSON.

THE ATTACK ON LONG ISLAND RAILROAD SOME YEARS AGO.

THIS IS REMINISCENT OF THAT WHERE HE OPENED UP WITH AN ASSAULT RIFLE AND KILLED SEVERAL PEOPLE.

>> BILL, YOUR EXPERTISE IS SECURITY.

YOU KNOW PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE AFRAID TO GO -- SOME PEOPLE WILL BE CONCERNED ABOUT GOING INTO THE SUBWAYS.

IN THE SHORT RUN, HOW CAN WE MAKE THOSE PEOPLE FEEL MORE SECURE?

WHAT CAN INDIVIDUALS DO NOW THAT THEY MAY HAVE NOT BEEN DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE A LITTLE BIT SAFER THAN NOT?

>> THESE ARE COMMON SENSE TIPS.

ONE MIGHT SAY, OF COURSE.

IT'S AMAZING HOW QUICKLY MANY OF US FORGET THESE TIPS.

FIRST THING I'M GOING TO SAY IS, DON'T COUNT ON PEOPLE TO STEP IN.

DON'T SAY, THERE'S SOMEONE ON THE PLATFORM.

THEY WILL HELP ME IF I'M ALONE AND I'M BEING ACCOSTED.

IT'S CALLED HAVING SITUATIONAL AWARENESS.

HAVING YOUR HEAD ON A SWIVEL.

KNOWING WHERE YOU ARE AT ALL TIMES.

WHAT DO WE SEE WHEN WE'RE ON TRACK PLATFORMS OR WALKING ON THE STREET?

EAR BUDS, NOT SO SMART PHONE AND WE ARE IN OUR OWN COCOON BUBBLE.

GUESS WHAT?

PREDATORS, NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE, THEY SEE THEY.

THEY PREY ON THAT.

YOU DON'T HAVE AWARENESS MUCH DOWN AT THE TRAIN STATION, I TRY TO KEEP MY BACK AGAINST SOMETHING SOLID.

WHETHER IT'S THE WALL, WHETHER IT'S THE PILING, A BEAM.

SOMEONE CAN'T COME UP IN BACK OF ME.

I WILL WAIT.

I DON'T NEED TO BE THE FIRST ON THE TRAIN CAR.

I WILL WAIT.

I WILL LOOK FOR MULTIPLE EXITS.

IF SOMETHING GOES DOWN, IT'S CALLED DOING THE WHAT IF SCENARIO.

WHAT I WILL SAY IS GOOD HABITS ARE HARD TO BREAK.

IT'S NOT BEING P PARANOID.

IT'S BEING PREPARED.

>> IS THERE ANYTHING THAT MIGHT MAKE THIS AREA A PARTICULAR TARGET FOR SOMEBODY?

IT'S THE POPULATION, IS IT MADE UP OF GROUPS THAT HAVE BEEN THE TARGETS OF HATE CRIMES LIKE JEWS OR ASIAS?

IS THE 36th STREET STATION A SIGNIFICANT SUBWAY HUB, FOR EXAMPLE?

>> IF YOU ARE ASKING ME, WE WON'T KNOW THAT.

IT COULD BE THAT THE ASSAILANT, THE PERPETRATOR LIVED DOWN THE BLOCK.

WHAT'S OBVIOUS IS HE WENT FOR THE MOST OBVIOUS, EASIEST TARGET, UNLESS IT COMES OUT THAT IT WAS TO MAKE A SPECIFIC STATEMENT LIKE YOU ARE PUTTING FORTH.

>> MY QUESTION WAS TO YOU, BEN.

DO YOU KNOW IF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD IS A NEIGHBORHOOD MADE UP OF VULNERABLE GROUPS?

>> IN THAT AREA, THERE'S CERTAINLY A LOT OF LOWER INCOME IMMIGRANTS, RECENT IMMIGRANTS, IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES.

THERE ARE SIZABLE ASIAN POPULATIONS.

WE HAVE SEEN IN RECENT MONTHS AND YEARS AN INCREASE IN ANTI-ASIAN HATE CRIMES AND VIOLENCE.

AGAIN, IT'S OBVIOUSLY AT THIS STAGE WHEN WE ARE TALKING HARD TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT MOTIVE OR CHOICE OF VENUE.

THE STOP IS A SUBWAY HUB BUT NOT A MAJOR ONE.

THAT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THE CHOICE THAT WAS AT HAND, DEPENDING UPON WHAT WE LEARN ABOUT THE PERPETRATOR.

>> FINAL QUESTION ON THIS.

ARE THE FEDERAL -- ARE THE FEDS INVOLVED IN THIS INVESTIGATION?

WHEN DO THEY GET INVOLVED IF NOT?

>> THEY'RE ALREADY INVOLVED.

I THINK ONE THING THAT -- THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS THAT PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK CAN BE CONFIDENT IN.

ONE OF WHICH IS, THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS A LONG HISTORY OF WORKING WITH THE FBI, THE JOINT FEDERAL TASK FORCE.

THEY ARE INVOLVED.

THE FACT THAT THE NATURE OF THE CRIME IS SIMILAR TO A TERRORIST ATTACK IS MORE IMPORTANT FOR THE FEDERAL AUTHORITIES TO GET INVOLVED.

THEY HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH THAT.

THE MINUTE THERE WAS REPORTS OF A POSSIBLE EXPLOSIVE DEVICE USUALLY BRING IN THE FEDERAL AUTHORITIES.

THERE'S A MULTI-AGENCY RESPONSE HERE.

I THINK THAT'S VERY HELP FOR.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO.

HOPEFULLY, WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO A QUICK RESOLUTION.

>> WE HEARD THE GOVERNOR.

SHE'S PUTTING STATE RESOURCES IN IT.

PROBABLY ALREADY THERE.

THE SECOND HEAD LINE STORY TODAY.

BEN, I WILL GO TO YOU ON THIS.

THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, BRIAN BENJAMIN, WAS ARRESTED.

TELL US WHY HE WAS ARRESTED.

IF IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS A COMPLETE SHOCK OR SOMETHING THAT WAS -- SOME PEOPLE KNEW MIGHT HAPPEN.

>> THERE WERE DEFINITELY TEA LEAVES ON THIS FOR A WHILE.

THERE WAS REPORTING IN THE OUTLET THAT IDENTIFIED SOME QUESTIONABLE POTENTIAL STRAW DONORS TO LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BRIAN BENJAMIN'S CONTROLLER CAMPAIGN WHEN HE WAS RUNNING FOR CITY CONTROLLER LAST YEAR.

THIS WAS BEFORE GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO DESIGN AND KATHY HOCHUL BECAME GOVERNOR.

THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING OFFICES THERE.

THERE WAS REPORTING ABOUT THESE POTENTIAL STRAW DONORS.

IT WAS LOOKED AT BY THE NEW YORK CITY FINANCE BOARD WHICH RAISED FLAGS.

THERE WAS REPORTING THAT THERE WAS A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION.

WE HAVE SEEN THIS COMING.

NOW THERE ARE FEDERAL CORRUPTION CHARGES THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT AGAINST THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR RELATED TO BRIBERY AND HONEST SERVICES FRAUD.

ALLEGING WHAT THE U.S. ATTORNEY FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK CALLED A VERY SORT OF KIND OF CUT AND DRY BASIC BRIBERY SCHEME.

A LOT OF DETAILS THAT MAKE THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR LOOK QUITE BAD AND KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE SCHEME.

THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THEY WILL BE ABLE TO FULLY PROVE SORT OF THE QUID PRO QUO.

>> THERE'S NO HINT THAT GOVERNOR HOCHUL KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS, THE ALLEGED CRIME.

LET ME ASK THE PROFESSIONALS.

WOULD THE GOVERNOR HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE FEDS AHEAD OF TIME OF THE ARREST?

WOULD SHE HAVE BEEN TOLD?

WOULD SHE NOT BE ALLOWED TO BE TOLD?

>> IT DEPENDS ON WHETHER THERE WAS ANY SPECULATION OF SOMEONE FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE WAS INVOLVED.

I WOULD THINK THAT THE GOVERNOR MAY BE INFORMED RIGHT BEFORE THE ARREST.

BUT CERTAINLY NOT DURING THE INVESTIGATION.

YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHERE THESE THINGS ARE GOING TO LEAD.

SOMETIMES THIS CAN BE POLITICAL.

IT DEPENDS ON WHETHER FOLKS ARE PLAYING WELL TOGETHER OR WHETHER THERE'S -- ONE DOESN'T MIND EMBARRASSING THE GOVERNOR.

IN A PERFECT WORLD, THE GOVERNOR WOULD BE INFORMED THAT YOU ARE A -- YOUR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WILL BE ARRESTED ON FEDERAL CHARGES TO BE ABLE TO MAKE PUBLIC STATEMENTS AND GET HER DUCKS IN A ROW.

>> BILL, YOU AGREE?

>> I AGREE WITH MY FELLOW NYPD OFFICER AND THE PROFESSOR.

IN A PERFECT WORLD, EXACTLY WHAT HE SAID.

AS WE LEARN IN POLITICS, SOMEONE PICKS UP A PHONE OR GIVES A MESSAGE IN SOMEONE'S EAR.

>> BEN, WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

DOES THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR GET OFF THE BALLOT?

HOW DOES THIS AFFECT THE ELECTION?

>> THE MOST REMARKABLE PART OF THIS BEYONDBASICS OF THE ALLEGATIONS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT EVEN IF THIS ALL CONTINUES ON AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IS EXONERATED, SOME OF THE ACTIONS ALLEGED ARE NOT ETHICAL.

THERE ARE QUESTIONS IN THESE POLITICAL CORRUPTION CASES ABOUT WHERE THE LINE BETWEEN UNETHICAL AND ILLEGAL IS DRAWN.

WE HAVE SEEN A SUPREME RULING THAT'S HELPED CERTAIN ELECTED OFFICIALS NOT GET INDICTED LIKE BILL de BLASIO.

WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

THE OTHER REMARKABLE THING ABOUT THIS IS, THIS IS JUST A LITTLE OVER TWO MONTHS BEFORE PRIMARY DAY.

THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IS ON BALLOT.

IT'S TOO LATE IN MOST WAYS TO GET HIM OFF THE BALLOT.

THERE ARE POTENTIAL WAVES THEY COULD MAKE MANMANEUVERS.

IT'S EARLY TO TELL WHAT THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO IN TERMS OF POTENTIALLY TRYING TO MOVE HIM TOWARDS RUNNING FOR A DIFFERENT OFFICE AND BE ABLE TO REPLACE HIM ON THE BALLOT.

THESE ARE QUESTIONS WE WILL TRY TO ANSWER.

YOU CAN BE CERTAIN THAT GOVERNOR HOCHUL WILL BE EXPLORING ALL OF THESE WAYS TO POTENTIALLY GET HER RUNNING MATE OFF THE BALLOT.

THERE'S QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER HE WILL BE FORCED TO RESIGN.

>> HAS HE SAID ANYTHING ABOUT THE ARREST?

>> AS OF THIS TAPING, I HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING.

>> HOW DO YOU THINK THIS IS GOING TO AFFECT THE ELECTION?

THE PRIMARIES FIRST, THAT GOVERNOR HOCHUL HAS TO UNDERGO.

AND THEN IF SHE SURVIVED THE GENERAL ELECTION.

>> ONE OF THE FASCINATING THINGS IS THAT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND GOVERNOR ARE SEPARATE ELECTIONS IN THE PRIMARIES.

THE WINNERS RUN AS A TICKET IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

THERE WAS A CHANCE THAT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BRIAN BENJAMIN COULD LOSE HIS BID FOR THE NOMINATION HERE TO OTHERS RUNNING IN THE PRIMARY.

IF HE STAYS ON THE BALLOT, THE CHANCES OF THAT INCREASE THAT HE WOULD LOSE THE PRIMARY AND EVEN IF GOVERNOR HOCHUL WINS HER PRIMARY, THE TWO ARE THE DEMOCRATIC TICKET.

THAT WILL BE INTERESTING TO WATCH.

THIS WILL HURT HER POLITICALLY, BECAUSE SHE KNEW THAT BRIAN BENJAMIN HAD CLOUDS OVER HIM.

SHE KNEW THERE WERE INVESTIGATIONS INTO SOME OF HIS CAMPAIGN FINANCE AND DECISION MAKING ON OTHER ISSUES.

SHE SELECTED STILL AS HER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, RAISING QUESTION ABOUT HER DECISION MAKING.

>> A SAD DAY FOR MULTIPLE REASONS.

SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INJURED THAT WE HOPE AND PRAY WILL BE FINE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, GENTLEMEN, FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> "METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE