Lisa Zornberg, New York Mayor Adams’ top legal adviser, resigned Saturday night, a high-profile departure that comes as City Hall grapples with the fallout from a federal investigation that has ensnared a number of the mayor’s closest advisers, the Daily News has learned.
No reason was given for the departure in a statement released by Adams.
“We appreciate all the work Lisa has done for our administration and, more importantly, the city over the past 13 months,” read the statement posted online by WPIX-11. “These are difficult jobs and we don’t expect anyone to stay in them forever. We wish Lisa all the best in her future endeavors. The other senior members of the general counsel team will remain in their positions to ensure the office continues to function fully without issues, and we expect to appoint an interim chief legal counsel in the coming days.”
Zornberg is a key member of the Adams administration, and she leaves office amid a turbulent period in Adams’ tenure.
Five senior administration officials — former police commissioner Edward Caban, deputy mayors Philip Banks and Sheena Wright, schools chancellor David Banks and senior adviser to the mayor Timothy Pearson — had their phones confiscated last week by federal agents as part of a corruption investigation.
James Caban, Edward Caban’s twin brother, is under federal scrutiny for allegedly using his family connections to secure security contracts, according to sources. The business dealings of Terence Banks, Phil and David’s brother, are also under federal scrutiny, the Daily News has learned.
No one has been charged with any wrongdoing, but Caban resigned as the city’s top cop on Thursday and a city hall staffer was fired after a television report linked him to James Caban.
The investigation is the latest legal headache for Adams, whose 2021 campaign is also under federal investigation over alleged ties to Turkey. The mayor has also been accused in a civil lawsuit of sexual misconduct; he has vigorously denied those allegations.
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