NYC Deputy Mayor Phil Banks resigns in latest Adams administration shakeup amid federal corruption probes

Phil Banks, Mayor Adams’ apical nationalist information lawman and longtime friend, resigned implicit the weekend, the latest apical City Hall authoritative to measurement down aft becoming embroiled successful federal corruption investigations that are rocking the administration, the Daily News has learned.

Banks, the lawman politician for nationalist safety, submitted a resignation missive to the politician Sunday night, sources acquainted with the substance said. It was not wide Monday greeting if the resignation was effectual immediately.

In an quality connected NY1 Monday morning, Adams confirmed Banks has submitted his resignation.

“He reached retired to maine and stated, ‘Eric, I’m looking to determination connected and this is simply a bully clip to bash so,'” said Adams.

Adams, who’s fighting national transgression charges alleging helium solicited bribes from Turkish authorities operatives successful speech for governmental favors, besides said Banks initially told him helium wanted to resign six months ago.

“I said, ‘Listen, we got a mates things successful the pipeline. Can you delight clasp connected and get them done?’ And helium was consenting to bash that and I admit him for that,” Adams said.

Mayor Eric Adams (Shawn Inglima for New York Daily News)

Banks, who served with Adams successful the NYPD and has been a cardinal governmental confidant to him for decades, did not instantly instrumentality a petition for comment.

The lawman mayor’s departure comes aft helium and 4 different apical Adams advisers had their homes raided and electronics seized connected Sept. 4 arsenic portion of aggregate national corruption investigations scrutinizing whether metropolis officials were engaged successful schemes involving power peddling, kickbacks connected metropolis contracts and NYPD nightlife enforcement misuse, among different matters.

Prior to Monday, 3 of those officials — Schools Chancellor David Banks, elder Adams advisor Tim Pearson and NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban — had already announced their resignations.

Now that Phil Banks, the chancellor’s younger brother, is besides headed for the door, lone 1 different authoritative who was deed by the feds Sept. 4 remains portion of the Adams administration: Sheena Wright, the archetypal lawman mayor.

Sources person said, though, that Wright, Chancellor Banks’ wife, is besides astir to resign. She was initially expected to bash truthful this past Friday.

With Evan Simko-Bednarski

Originally Published: October 7, 2024 astatine 8:30 a.m.