NYC schools boss David Banks laughs it up as he dodges questions about federal probe that seized his and brothers’ phones

The seismic federal probe targeting some of New York City’s top public servants appears to be a laughing matter — at least to Schools Chancellor David Banks.

Banks on Friday used his first news conference since the feds seized his phones at his Harlem townhouse to laugh off The Post’s questions about the investigation.

He refused to respond when asked about his claim that the government had assured him he wasn’t a target, and about whether he would resign like ousted NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, whose electronics were also snatched by the feds in last week’s raids.

“I’m not responding to either of those questions, thank you,” Banks, who pockets an annual $363,346 salary, said after chuckling.

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And when Banks wasn’t laughing, he stonewalled – notably when asked questions about the consulting firm run by his younger brother, Terence Banks, who was also raided by the feds last week.

“Those questions that you asked are specifically the question that I’m not answering, I can’t answer those questions,” the Department of Education boss said.

Hours later, it was revealed that an education tech company called 21stCentEd publicly listed as a client of Terence Banks’ Pearl Alliance firm had snagged a private meeting with the schools chancellor within a month of hiring his brother.

Since that October 2022 sit-down, first reported by The Associated Press, the firm raked in $1.4 million in DOE funds, records show.

The founder and a representative of 21stCentEd didn’t respond to The Post’s request for comment. A company rep had told The Associated Press that Terence Banks provided “no value” to the firm and his contract was terminated last December.

David Banks, during his news conference, pointedly rebuffed five separate queries about the federal probe that burst into public view after a stunning suite of Sept. 4 raids on several of Mayor Eric Adams’ top administration officials and allies — at least three of whom have close connections to Banks.

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Feds seized electronic devices from Banks and his longtime partner First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright at their shared home.

They also targeted David and Terence Banks’ brother Phil Banks, the deputy mayor for public safety. Feds are eyeing whether Phil Banks steered city contracts toward companies represented by his brother Terence’s consulting firm, which records show had inked millions of dollars’ worth of public deals, sources have said.

David Banks — even as he denied the feds’ actions counted as a “raid” — acknowledged that agents had seized his personal and Department of Education-issued phones during a roughly 30-minute visit early the morning before the first day of school.

“Outside of that, I don’t know a lot,” he said.

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Banks said the feds still had his phones more than a week after the raid.

When asked about what kids will think reading that the chancellor had to surrender his phones, Banks professed that he has always been authentic and lived with integrity.

“Sometimes kids will be accused of things that they were not part of and have nothing to do with,” he said.

“Just because your name happens to be in a paper or connected to whatever, does not presume some level of guilt, and that is a lesson in life.”

Terence Banks apparently butt-dialed The Post Friday afternoon, but hung up when a reporter called him back. His attorney didn’t return a call for comment.

– Additional reporting by Craig McCarthy

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