On October 8, Sheena Wright, New York City’s First Deputy Mayor, announced her resignation amid an ongoing FBI investigation. This decision follows the resignation of her husband, Phil Banks, another deputy mayor, who stepped down just a day earlier on October 7. The city is experiencing a wave of high-profile departures, including that of senior advisor Zheng Qirong. Compounding the situation, former city official Mohamed Bahi was arrested on charges of evidence tampering linked to the investigation.
In reaction to these resignations, Mayor Eric Adams appointed Maria Torres-Springer as the new First Deputy Mayor. Adams emphasized that the exits, including Zheng’s, were not related to the federal probe and denied ever instructing anyone to engage in illegal activities despite the turmoil in his administration.
Adams has made it clear that he intends to complete his term and seek reelection, even while facing allegations of bribery and corruption. “When the truth comes out, people will reassess the situation,” he stated. To manage matters concerning the federal investigation, he’s designated his attorney, Alex Spiro, to handle the case and ensure that the facts are made clear.
Wright’s resignation followed her communications devices being seized by federal agents, with sources suggesting she felt “pressured to resign” as Adams dealt with rising tensions within his administration.
Simultaneously, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams announced the indictment of Bahi for allegedly obstructing a federal investigation into Adams’ campaign fundraising and for destroying evidence. This comes after federal indictments against Adams were revealed in late September, which have led to significant changes among the city’s executive team. In addition to the departures of Wright, Banks, and Zheng, former senior advisor to community affairs, Rana Abbasova, reportedly decided to cooperate with prosecutors, resulting in her termination.
As Torres-Springer steps into her new role, she brings over 20 years of public service experience, having worked in various mayoral administrations and led several city agencies in advancing housing and economic development initiatives in New York City.
Adams has characterized these resignations as part of the normal operations of government and separated them from the federal investigation. “No one has told me they wanted to resign because of the investigation,” he asserted, reiterating his commitment to ensuring his team adheres to the law and has never directed anyone toward illegal actions.
Other officials who have resigned during this period of upheaval include former NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, Health Commissioner Ashwin Wasan, senior advisor Lisa Zornberg, and Timothy Pearson, all of whom are also under federal scrutiny. Despite the challenges ahead, Adams remains resolute in his intention to complete his term and run for reelection.
