Key Takeaways:
– Lisa Zornberg, top legal adviser to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, resigned abruptly over the weekend.
– The law attorney denied being a target of the ongoing investigations that have engulfed the Adams administration.
– Zornberg’s resignation comes on the heels of the police commissioner’s exit, intensifying the perception of instability within the Adams’ administration.
In what is increasingly being seen as a sign of an unstable administration, Lisa Zornberg, the leading legal adviser to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, has resigned from her position. The announcement of her sudden departure was made by City Hall late on Saturday night.
Zornberg’s Crucial Role in Adams’ Administration
For over a year, Zornberg played a critical role within the Adams administration. Her primary responsibilities included advising the Mayor and other city personnel on legal matters. She often represented the Mayor during press interactions, providing responses to complex legal queries on his behalf.
She clarified in her resignation letter that her decision to step down was due to her inability to serve effectively in her position. “I am tendering my resignation, effective today, as I have concluded that I can no longer effectively serve in my position,” Zornberg wrote.
Resignation Amid Growing Investigations
Zornberg’s resignation follows closely on the heels of the depressurization created as multiple members of Mayor Eric Adams’ inner circle had their phones seized by federal investigators. Among those affected by this probe is Edward Caban, the head of New York City’s police department, who decided to step down on Thursday. Caban mentioned the “distraction” created by news of these investigations as the primary reason for his decision to leave.
Despite the mounting investigations surrounding the Adam’s administration, law authorities have yet to reveal what these investigations entail. In addition to seizing the police commissioner’s phone, investigators have also acquired phones from various top officials within the administration, including the head of public schools, and several of Adam’s top advisers on public safety matters.
Former NYPD sergeant James Caban, twin brother of Edward Caban, was also examined by investigators. Apart from this, searches were conducted pertaining to Terence Banks, brother of Adams’ lead deputy on public safety, Phil Banks, as well as Education Chancellor David Banks.
The String of Prior Investigations
In separate investigations earlier, federal authorities seized Adams’ phone, conducted searches at the home of one of his lead campaign fundraisers, and scanned two residences linked to his director of Asian affairs. Throughout all this, Mayor Adams has repeatedly denied having any knowledge of wrongdoings.
In the wake of Zornberg’s resignation, Adams expressed his appreciation for her contributions to the administration stating, “We appreciate all the work Lisa has done for our administration and, more importantly, the city over the past 13 months. We wish Lisa all the best in her future endeavors.”
As of now, an interim replacement for Zornberg has yet to be announced, but Mayor Adams maintains that further information will be revealed in the coming days. With multiple investigations still ongoing, it is unclear what effect these recent developments will have on the Adams administration in the forthcoming days.