NYC deputy mayor resigns as Eric Adams fallout continues

Phillip Banks III, New York City's deputy mayor and lieutenant to Mayor Eric Adams , is the latest aide to step down since the mayor's federal indictment and investigation.

Adams was charged with bribery and wire fraud last month, prompting many of his officials to resign despite him pleading not guilty and denying any wrongdoing. Banks, the deputy mayor for public safety, stepped aside, with Adams claiming Monday that Banks wanted to "do some other things with his life."

“He stated he wants to transition, do 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 this city,” Adams said on Spectrum NY1. “I wish my good friend well.”

Banks was the city's chief of police until he retired in 2014. Adams appointed Banks to the deputy mayor position in 2022.

Banks is the latest person to leave in an exodus of aides from Adams's office. Others who have resigned or announced their intentions to leave include Lisa Zornberg, Adams's chief counsel; David Banks, Phillip Banks's brother and city schools chancellor; Tim Pearson, senior adviser; and Ed Caban, police commissioner.

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Adams is the first sitting New York City mayor to be indicted. He is facing charges he took illegal foreign contributions from Turkish donors as part of a payment for his fast-tracking a new consulate. Prosecutors claim Adams accented free travel and hotel stays as part of the exchange.

Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) has the power to remove Adams from office but, in a late September phone call, told the embattled mayor to clean house and keep the city running.