New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Monday he will “stay focused” on his job as another one of his top officials, Deputy Mayor Phil Banks, resigned amid the swirl of scandal around the administration.
Mr. Banks stepped down after federal authorities seized his phone as part of an investigation into the police and nightlife industry.
“We spoke yesterday and we spoke again this morning, and he stated he wants to transition to some other things with his life and he doesn’t want this to be a constant burden on the work that we’re doing in the city. And I accepted his resignation,” Mr. Adams, a Democrat, said on NY1’s “Mornings on 1.”
Mr. Banks’ brother, David Banks, recently resigned as the city schools chancellor, as Mr. Adams and his team face pressure on multiple fronts.
The mayor was indicted in September on fraud and bribery charges. Prosecutors allege he accepted foreign donations through straw donors and lavish travel perks and provided formal favors in return, particularly to Turkish officials and businessmen.
Mr. Adams pleaded not guilty and says New Yorkers are cheering him on.
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“I am confident when the true story gets out, not a one-sided version, New York is going to see that we can stay focused and get the job done as we’re doing today and as we will continue to do so,” Mr. Adams said Monday.
The legal pressure is complicating Mr. Adams’ ability to run for reelection next year.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, has the power to remove Mr. Adams after a public process that allows the mayor to offer a defense. She hasn’t exercised that power or called on the mayor to resign, though she hinted recently that Mr. Adams should clean house in his administration.
Mr. Adams, speaking to NY1, bristled at the idea that Ms. Hochul was pressuring him.
“You use a powerful term. She put ‘pressure,’” he said. “No, the governor has always been a partner. That’s the term that we’ve always used.”
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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