Phil Banks, deputy mayor for public safety, resigns
Deputy Mayor Phil Banks resigns
Mayor Eric Adams’ Deputy Mayor for Public Safety, Phil Banks, has resigned following a federal investigation and raids on his home. Banks, a longtime ally of Adams, is the latest top official to step down from the administration amid a growing federal corruption case.
NEW YORK CITY - Phil Banks, the deputy mayor for public safety, has resigned, NYC Mayor Eric Adams confirmed Monday morning on Good Day New York.
"Not only the deputy mayor, he's a long-time friend," Adams said. "You know, he was the former Chief of Department in the New York City Police Department."
Back on Sept. 24, the FBI raided the homes of at least 3 NYC officials closely connected to Adams, including Banks.
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"He really understood public safety," Adams said. "He has been a real, dedicated, committed public servant."
Banks joins a growing list of high-ranking officials stepping down amid Adams' escalating corruption case.
Who is Phil Banks? The brothers and a consulting firm
After taking office in 2022, Adams turned to a pair of brothers to help oversee two of the city's most important institutions, the public schools and the police department. He made Philip Banks, formerly a top NYPD chief, his deputy mayor for public safety. He made David Banks, who had run a network of boys' schools, the schools chancellor.
The same day they appeared at the homes of the Caban brothers, federal investigators seized devices from Philip and David Banks, as well as from First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright.
Agents also took a phone from the Banks' youngest brother, Terence Banks.
Formerly a mid-level supervisor in New York City's subway system, Terence Banks launched a consulting firm that promised to connect businesses to key government stakeholders. The firm represented companies seeking work with city agencies, including the education and police departments
According to public records, some of those companies received millions of dollars in city contracts — and in one case got a personal meeting with the schools chancellor — after hiring Terrence Banks.
Adams appears in court over bribery allegations
Meanwhile, Adams returned to court last week in a case where he's accused of taking bribes and illegal campaign contributions.
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Adams made a 10:30 a.m. appearance before a judge at a federal courthouse in Manhattan, where federal prosecutors said they might bring additional charges against the mayor and indict others in the corruption case against him.
According to prosecutors, the travel perks were arranged by a senior Turkish diplomatic official in New York and Turkish businesspeople who wanted to gain influence with Adams.
The indictment alleges that Adams also conspired to receive illegal donations to his political campaigns from foreign sources who weren’t allowed to give money to U.S. political candidates.
What are the charges?
- Count 1: Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Federal Program Bribery, and to Receive Campaign Contributions By Foreign Nationals
- Count 2: Wire Fraud
- Count 3: Solicitation of a Contribution by a Foreign National
- Count 4: Solicitation of a Contribution by a Foreign National
- Count 5: Bribery
What is Adams accused of?
Adams is accused of, among other allegations:
- Raking in more than $10,000 from illegal contributions by using false certifications to game the city’s matching funds program, which provides a generous match for small dollar donations.
- Working with a Turkish senior official who "facilitated many straw donations" to Adams and arranged for Adams and his companions to receive free or discounted travel on Turkey’s national airline to destinations including France, China, Sri Lanka, India, Hungary, and Turkey.
- "Solicit[ing] and demand[ing]" bribes, including free and heavily discounted luxury travel benefits from a Turkish official. who was seeking Adams’ help pertaining to regulations of the Turkish consulate in Manhattan.
- Failing to disclose his free and discounted travel, creating a false paper trail to suggest he had paid it, claiming to a staffer that he deleted his text messages and directed the staffer to ensure his activities in Turkey in 2021 were shielded from public view.