Philip Banks III, a longtime associate of Mayor Eric Adams, resigned amid federal investigations into potential corruption in the Adams administration. Several top advisors, including Banks’ brother David, also resigned. Banks’ controversial past includes being named as an unindicted co-conspirator in a federal corruption investigation of the NYPD in 2014. Despite these issues, Adams appointed Banks as deputy mayor for public safety. The resignation comes after pressure from elected officials and investigations into Banks’ ties to a security firm and a tech firm hired by his brother. Adams continues to support Banks due to their longstanding relationship.
Philip Banks III, who served as Mayor Eric Adams’ deputy mayor for public safety and has close ties to the mayor, recently resigned following a federal investigation into potential corruption within the Adams’ administration. This move is part of a larger trend of top advisors leaving the mayor’s team, including schools chancellor David Banks, First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, Police Commissioner Edward Caban, and senior advisor Tim Pearson.
The resignation comes after Mayor Adams was indicted on bribery and campaign finance fraud charges, sparking demands from elected officials, including Governor Kathy Hochul, for Adams to remove close associates under investigation. Adams confirmed Banks’ departure in an interview, stating that Banks wanted to transition to other endeavors and not be a burden on the city’s work.
Banks’ appointment to the Adams administration was controversial due to his past involvement in a federal corruption investigation of the NYPD. Despite being named as an unindicted co-conspirator in the case, Banks was welcomed into Adams’ team in 2021 and later appointed as deputy mayor for public safety. In this role, Banks had significant influence over NYPD affairs and was involved in vetting public safety-related appointments.
Questions of conflict of interest arose regarding Banks’ ownership of a security firm and his involvement in promoting high-tech devices and software for the NYPD. Additionally, Banks was connected to a federal inquiry involving a tech firm that hired his brother to gain favor with him and his school chancellor brother. Despite these controversies, Mayor Adams continued to support Banks due to their longstanding relationship with the Banks family.
The resignation of Philip Banks III is a significant development in the ongoing investigations into potential corruption in the Adams’ administration. The departure of several top advisors highlights the challenges facing the mayor as he navigates these legal and ethical issues.
Source: TheCity.NYC
