The Editorial Board: Benjamin makes the right decision News Editorial Board Apr 12, 2022 Apr 12, 2022 Updated Feb 17, 2026 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save It was over by the end of the workday. In the morning, Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin was charged with political corruption. Hours later, he resigned.kAm(6 5@?’E <?@H E92E 96’D 8F:=EJ – ?6:E96C 5@ E96 A@=:E:42= @AA@?6?ED H9@ 2C6 >2<:?8 92J @7 9:D 2CC6DE – 3FE E96 =682= BF6DE:@? :D D6A2C2E6 7C@> E96 A@=:E:42= @?6D]k^AmkAm%96 =682= @?6 :D 62D:=J 2?DH6C65i q6?;2>:?[ v@G] z2E9J w@49F=’D D64@?5 :? 4@>>2?5[ :D :??@46?E F?=6DD 96’D AC@G6? 8F:=EJ] w6 DFCC6?56C65 62C=J %F6D52J 32D65 @? 7656C2= 492C86D @7 3C:36CJ[ 7C2F5 2?5 72=D:7:42E:@? @7 C64@C5D 2D A2CE @7 2 3:5 E@ 5:C64E :==682= 5@?2E:@?D E@ 9:D 72:=65 a_a` 42>A2:8? 7@C }6H *@C< r:EJ 4@>AEC@==6C]k^Am kAm%96 A@=:E:42= 4@?D:56C2E:@?D 2C6 5:776C6?E] %96 492C86D 4@>AC@>:D6 9:D 23:=:EJ E@ 5@ E96 ;@3 E92E 96 2DDF>65 FA@? w@49F=’D :?G:E2E:@? =2DE $6AE6>36C] w6 ?66565 E@ C6D:8? 7C@> 2 ;@3 :? H9:49 96 4@F=5 ?@ =@?86C 7F?4E:@?]k^Am People are also reading… Despite opposition, concerns about rights, Marion council adopts loitering ordinance A look at Smyth board's OK of data center zoning regs Smyth man accused of forging military document Chilhowie Apple Festival to celebrate USA's 250th No mercy: Smyth prosecutor, victim's nephew fight murderer's parole Friday Night Lights: Rural Retreat Farmers Market to expand opportunities Keys to victory in Virginia Tech football's road opener against Maryland Virginia Tech's James Franklin values recruiting in Maryland Stocked shelves: Food City opens new store in Marion Proposed zoning regs for data centers head to Smyth supervisors Saltville readies for 55th Labor Day celebration Brandyn Hillman leads No. 25 Virginia football in blowout win over FCS Norfolk State Potential Hokie Johnson joins Indiana lawsuit in eligibility quest Grant program that's helped Wythe, Smyth farmers now accepting applications David Hoffmann: Local news can bring communities together kAm“(9:=6 E96 =682= AC@46DD A=2JD @FE[ :E :D 4=62C E@ 3@E9 @7 FD E92E 96 42??@E 4@?E:?F6 E@ D6CG6 2D =:6FE6?2?E 8@G6C?@C[” w@49F= HC@E6 :? 2 DE2E6>6?E] “}6H *@C<6CD 56D6CG6 23D@=FE6 4@?7:56?46 :? E96:C 8@G6C?>6?E[ 2?5 x H:== 4@?E:?F6 H@C<:?8 6G6CJ 52J E@ 56=:G6C 7@C E96>]”k^AmkAm{:<6 G:46 AC6D:56?ED[ 2 =:6FE6?2?E 8@G6C?@C 92D 76H @77:4:2= C6DA@?D:3:=:E:6D[ 3FE @?6 :D E@ DE6A :? :7 E96 8@G6C?@C :D F?23=6 E@ 24E] p 7656C2= 76=@?J 492C86 2==68:?8 A@=:E:42= 4@CCFAE:@? >2<6D E92E :>A@DD:3=6]k^Am kAm(92E :D >@C6[ q6?;2>:? 92D 364@>6 2 4C@DD 7@C w@49F= E@ 362C] ~AA@?6?ED H:== 362E 96C H:E9 :E 7C@> ?@H F?E:= }@G6>36C’D 6=64E:@?] w6 @H65 :E E@ 96C[ E@ 9:D A2CEJ 2?5 E@ 2== }6H *@C<6CD E@ DE6A 5@H?]k^Am kAm~?6 BF6DE:@?[ :? A2CE:4F=2C[ :D =:23=6 E@ 5@8 qF772=@’D w@49F= 2D D96 42>A2:8?D 7@C 6=64E:@? E@ E96 @77:46 D96 :?96C:E65 =2DE pF8FDE] w@H H6== 5:5 96C @77:46 G6E q6?;2>:? 367@C6 ?@>:?2E:?8 9:> 2D =:6FE6?2?E 8@G6C?@Cnk^AmkAmpD k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?JE:>6D]4@>^a_aa^_c^`a^?JC68:@?^3C:2?\36?;2>:?\C6D:8?D\:?5:4E65]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm%96 }6H *@C< %:>6Dk^2m C6A@CED[ BF6DE:@?D 925 2C:D6? 62C=J :? a_a` 23@FE E96 A@=:E:42= 4@?EC:3FE:@?D :? BF6DE:@?] %9@D6 5@?2E:@?D 4@F=5 92G6 2==@H65 q6?;2>:? E@ BF2=:7J 7@C }6H *@C< r:EJ’D 86?6C@FD >2E49:?8\7F?5D AC@8C2>]k^Am kAm%96 492C86D 2C6 2 C6>:?56C E92E }6H *@C< A@=:E:4D 2C6 D@>6 @7 E96 ?2E:@?’D 5:CE:6DE] %96:C AC24E:46 :D 3:A2CE:D2?[ 3FE s6>@4C2ED – 7@C E96 >@>6?E[ 2E =62DE – 4@?EC@= 2== E96 =6G6CD @7 DE2E6 8@G6C?>6?E] %92E >2<6D E9:D 2? 6I46==6?E >@>6?E 7@C E96> E@ D9@H E92E E96J 2C6 D6C:@FD 23@FE :>A=6>6?E:?8 6E9:4D =2HD E92E 2C6 >62?E E@ >2<6 2 5:776C6?46]k^Am kAm• • •k^AmkAm(92EUCDBF@jD J@FC @A:?:@?n $6?5 :E E@ FD 2E k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i=6EE6CE@65:E@Co3F77?6HD]4@>Qm=6EE6CE@65:E@Co3F77?6HD]4@>k^2m] {6EE6CD D9@F=5 36 2 >2I:>F> @7 b__ H@C5D 2?5 >FDE 4@?G6J 2? @A:?:@?] %96 4@=F>? 5@6D ?@E AC:?E A@6ECJ[ 2??@F?46>6?ED @7 4@>>F?:EJ 6G6?ED @C E92?< J@F =6EE6CD] p HC:E6C @C 9@FD69@=5 >2J 2AA62C @?=J @?46 6G6CJ b_ 52JD] p== =6EE6CD 2C6 DF3;64E E@ 724E\4964<:?8 2?5 65:E:?8]k^Am 0 Comments Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story The Editorial Board: Rookie governor’s pick of running mate should not eclipse her accomplishments Gov. Kathy Hochul deserves the benefit of the doubt.
The Editorial Board: Rookie governor’s pick of running mate should not eclipse her accomplishments Gov. Kathy Hochul deserves the benefit of the doubt.
