Phil Banks, the controversial deputy mayor for public safety and one of Mayor Eric Adams’ closest advisers, has resigned.
Adams confirmed the news, which was first reported by the New York Post, on Monday morning during an interview on NY1. An exodus is underway from Adams’ administration following the indictment of the mayor on corruption charges and at least four federal investigations involving some of his closest advisers.
“We spoke yesterday and we spoke again this morning, and he stated he wants to transition to some other things with his life, and he doesn’t want this to be a constant burden on the work that we’re doing in the city,” Adams said on NY1. “I wish my good friend well.”
Phil Banks is the seventh senior Adams administration official to resign in the last few weeks. Phil’s brother, schools chancellor David Banks, announced his departure last month and will leave his post on Oct. 16 — months earlier than originally announced. The high-profile departures come as New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is pushing Adams to clean up his administration amid the investigations.
Adams hired Phil Banks early in his mayoralty, giving him a largely undefined role with significant influence over the fire department and NYPD — even though Banks’ career had already been marked by scandal.
In 2014, Banks abruptly resigned as the NYPD’s top uniformed officer. It later emerged that federal prosecutors had considered him an unindicted co-conspirator in a sprawling scandal that rocked the department. Evidence at a trial revealed Banks had accepted numerous gifts and traveled abroad with two Brooklyn businessmen who were ultimately convicted of bribing high-ranking police officers to boost their own reputations.
When he appointed Banks in 2022, Adams dismissed concerns about that scandal, saying he believed in second chances. Banks said he regretted his friendship with the businessmen.
As deputy mayor, Banks was widely seen as undermining then-Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell, who resigned after less than 18 months on the job.
But in September, a federal raid revealed Banks was being eyed by investigators yet again. The probe reportedly involved Phil’s youngest brother, Terence Banks, a retired MTA supervisor who recently founded a government relations firm.
The same day as Phil Banks was raided, Sept. 4, federal agents took David Banks’ phones during a search of the home he shares with his partner, First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright. Wright’s phones were also seized, and she is now expected to resign, according to sources. On Monday, though, Adams declined to comment on Wright’s future status in his administration.
Adams last month was indicted by a federal grand jury and accused of taking bribes from foreign nationals in exchange for political favors. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and said he will fight them vigorously.
This story has been updated to correct a photo of Phil Banks, after a previous version misidentified him in an image and caption. This story has also been updated and to include more information about Banks’ history.