Another top aide to New York City mayor resigns amid federal probe

NEW YORK (AP) — Embattled New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Monday that he’s accepted the resignation of his deputy mayor for public safety, Philip Banks, the latest senior official to leave as the mayor fends off an indictment and calls to step down.

Adams said on TV station NY1 that Banks had told him Sunday that “he wants to transition to some other things” and “doesn’t want this to be a constant burden on the work that we’re doing in the city.” The mayor added, “I wish my good friend well.”

The resignation, first reported in the New York Post, comes one month after federal agents seized devices from top city officials including Banks and his brother, schools chancellor David Banks, who also announced his resignation. In total, five top administration officials have left the administration in the last month.

Federal prosecutors have said they are pursuing “several related investigations” in addition to the case against the mayor, who was indicted late last month on charges of accepting illegal campaign contributions and bribes from foreign nationals. He has pleaded not guilty.

In a separate probe, federal prosecutors are scrutinizing whether a consulting firm run by a third Banks brother, Terence, broke the law by leveraging his family connections to help private companies secure city contracts, according to a person familiar with the matter. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose information about the investigations.

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