Phil Banks, Mayor Adams’ top public safety deputy and longtime friend, resigned over the weekend, the latest top City Hall official to resign after being implicated in federal corruption investigations that are shaking the administration , the Daily News learned.
Banks, the deputy mayor for public safety, submitted a letter of resignation to the mayor Sunday evening, sources familiar with the matter said. It was unclear Monday morning whether the resignation took effect immediately.
During an appearance on NY1 Monday morning, Adams confirmed that Banks had tendered her resignation.
“He contacted me and said, ‘Eric, I’m looking to move on and this is a good time to do it,'” Adams said.
Adams, who faces federal criminal charges alleging he solicited bribes from Turkish government officials in exchange for political favors, also said Banks initially told him he wanted to resign there six months ago.
“I said, ‘Look, we have a few things in the works. Can you please hold on and finish them? “And he was willing to do it and I appreciate him for that,” Adams said.
Banks, who served with Adams on the New York Police Department and has been a key political confidant of his for decades, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The deputy mayor’s departure comes after he and four other top Adams aides had their homes searched and electronic devices seized Sept. 4 as part of several federal corruption probes aimed at determining whether those responsible for the city were involved in schemes involving influence peddling, kickbacks on city contracts and the nightlife of the NYPD. misuse of law enforcement, among others.
Before Monday, three of those officials — Schools Chancellor David Banks, Adams senior adviser Tim Pearson and NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban — had already announced their resignations.
Now that Phil Banks, the chancellor’s younger brother, is also heading out the door, only one other official who was hit by the feds on September 4 remains in the Adams administration: Sheena Wright, the top deputy mayor .
Sources, however, indicated that Wright, Chancellor Banks’ wife, was also set to resign. She was originally scheduled to do so last Friday.
With Evan Simko-Bednarski
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