Attorneys for former New York Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin on Thursday filed new versions of Benjamin’s motion to dismiss his corruption and bribery indictment, revealing what they describe as a “stunning” effort by Manhattan federal prosecutors to coerce a Benjamin co-conspirator into asserting he engaged in a quid pro quo with the former lieutenant governor.

Benjamin’s lead attorney, Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel partner Barry Berke, alleged in the motion that the allocution read by Gerald Migdol during his plea hearing, which took place the same day a grand jury returned Benjamin’s indictment, was drafted by prosecutors “in an apparent effort to buttress their theory of the case and impede Mr. Benjamin’s defense.”