By tf-lawyer.com On October 8, New York City’s First Deputy Mayor, Sheena Wright, made headlines with her resignation amid an ongoing federal investigation. This announcement followed the resignation of her husband, Deputy Mayor Phil Banks, who stepped down just a day earlier on October 7, along with Senior Advisor to the Mayor, Angela Chen. Adding to the turmoil, former city official Mohamed Bahi was arrested for allegedly destroying evidence linked to the investigation.
In light of these developments, Mayor Eric Adams has faced mounting pressure but has remained steadfast in his decision not to resign, expressing his intentions to run for reelection. He responded to Wright’s resignation by appointing Maria Torres-Springer as the new First Deputy Mayor, emphasizing that the recent resignations are unrelated to the federal investigation. Adams insisted that he has never directed anyone to partake in illegal activities.
Despite the upheaval within his administration, Adams reaffirmed his dedication to completing his term and pursuing reelection. Addressing the federal bribery and corruption charges against him, he stated, “When the truth comes out, people will revisit the whole situation.” He mentioned that all inquiries regarding the federal investigation are now in the hands of his attorney, Alex Spiro, who is charged with presenting the facts.
Interestingly, Wright is married to Phil Banks, whose resignation adds another layer of complexity to the situation. Additionally, David Banks, the city’s Education Commissioner and brother of Phil Banks, is expected to step down by year’s end, although he is not under investigation. Prior to her resignation, federal agents seized Wright’s communication devices, and sources suggest she felt “forced out” as Adams needed to address the escalating crisis.
On the same day of Wright’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams revealed a criminal indictment against former city official Mohamed Bahi, accusing him of obstructing the federal investigation into Mayor Adams’ fundraising activities and destroying evidence. Bahi remains in custody.
The wave of resignations has significantly altered Adams’ inner circle since he was federally charged in late September. Alongside the high-profile departures, former Senior Assistant for Community Affairs Rana Abbasova reportedly cooperated with prosecutors in the case against Adams and was subsequently fired.
Maria Torres-Springer, stepping into the role left by Wright, has over 20 years of public service experience, having effectively led various city agencies and initiated numerous housing and economic development projects throughout New York City.
In addressing the concerns of the public, Adams clarified that the resignations of Wright and Chen were part of standard governmental procedures and were not prompted by the federal investigation. He stated, “No one told me they wanted to resign because of the investigation,” reiterating his commitment to ensuring his staff complies with the law and that he has never encouraged any illegal actions.
This ongoing wave of resignations has not been confined to just Wright and Chen; it also includes former NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, Health Commissioner Ashwin Wasan, and Senior Advisors Lisa Zornberg and Timothy Pearson, all of whom are under investigation as well.
