Mayor Eric Adams defends leadership amid federal probes, controversies, resignations

Mayor Eric Adams has defended his administration on Tuesday as it faces multiple federal investigations, including one probing his 2021 campaign finances. Amid a growing wave of scrutiny, Adams remained adamant that the probes won’t derail his leadership.

“Stuff comes up in the city, and we’re not going to be distracted,” Adams told reporters. “One of the distractions is answering the same question over and over again. I’m just not going to do that. I got a city to run.”

The pressure has intensified following the resignations of two key figures: the mayor’s chief counsel, Lisa Zornberg, and Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell. Reports suggest Zornberg left after advising Adams to fire officials entangled in federal investigations, including senior adviser Tim Pearson and Deputy Mayor Phil Banks. Adams declined to comment on Zornberg’s departure, stating, “Unless you were in that conversation, I don’t know how many people can say what’s the reason she left.”

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Pearson, facing multiple sexual assault lawsuits and investigations, remains a close ally of Adams. Defending his decision to keep Pearson in his role overseeing migrant contracts, Adams praised his team’s efforts: “There was something special about this entire team coming together, dealing with probably one of the greatest humanitarian crises we’ve seen in this city.”

Despite calls for his resignation from some officials, including City Councilwoman Alexa Avilés and State Senator Jabari Brisport, Adams reiterated his focus on running the city, insisting, “The investigations will take care of themselves.”