'The trust is being eroded': Federal probes into NYC officials continue to provoke criticism of Adams

NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Democratic officials made their presence known at the annual Labor Day Parade on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue on Saturday, among them Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who joined the chorus of criticism directed at Mayor Eric Adams as news of widespread federal investigations into his administration continues to break.

“You have to restore trust, so there's a lot of options you can choose from. The worst one is doing nothing,” Williams told 1010 WINS. “And so I need him to do something, right now, to help restore trust in government for New Yorkers.”

Federal investigators this week seized devices , including laptops and phones, from NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III, his brother David Banks, the NYC Schools chancellor, and Timothy Pearson, a senior public safety advisor and former high-ranking NYPD official.

Multiple reports indicate that the investigation into Caban, which is being conducted in association with the IRS, also involves one of his family members and relates to the NYPD’s handling of nightlife regulation.

Since the probe came to public attention, some officials have called for Caban’s removal, including Brooklyn Councilmember Lincoln Restler who said in a post on X that “Police Commissioner Edward Caban must go.”

“The NYPD partners with FBI all day to keep New Yorkers safe and their leader cannot do his job if he’s an FBI target,” Restler continued.

At least five other members of the NYPD are also under scrutiny, sources told 1010 WINS.

Williams came short of calling for the removal of Caban or any other administration members, but doubled down on his assertion that Adams must, in good faith, quell growing concerns regarding corruption.

“We need to either have some more communication, we need to understand better what's going on,” Williams said. “There's a lot of steps you can take, that's one of them, and right now, again, the trust is being eroded.”

Adams—who has consistently denied wrongdoing in a separate federal probe into fundraising during his 2021 mayoral campaign— told Pix11 that he remains confident in Caban’s ability to serve. The mayor has also continued to play into his platform prioritizing public safety and law and order.

“All of my members must follow the rules, and if anyone fails to do so, they will be held accountable,” Adams told 1010 WINS Saturday.

Adams also told reporters he supports "a good healthy review" of all members of his administration that follows "due process" at the Manhattan parade.

Political consultant Hank Sheinkopf told 1010 WINS that despite the criticism, strong action by Adams could be more damaging to public trust.

“If the mayor makes changes in staffing at those highest levels right now,” Sheinkopf said, “it will look like he’s abandoning his friends and those who have worked for him loyally. It will also make it look like he’s giving into something that hasn’t happened. We don’t know if these people have done anything wrong.”

If he were to resign, Williams would serve as interim mayor of the city, and the public advocate told 1010 WINS that he has “been prepared to do the job that [he] was elected to do.”

But Adams doesn’t plan on relinquishing his role anytime soon.

“You know, I'm going to be mayor, and continue to be mayor, of the greatest city on the globe, New York City,” Adams said Saturday.