In late September, New York City Mayor Eric Adams found himself facing federal charges, resulting in a significant shake-up within his administration. As of the evening of October 7, reports confirm that Phil Banks, the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety, and Zheng Qirong, the Senior Asian American Advisor, have both resigned. Meanwhile, Rana Abbasova, a former senior aide for community affairs who is said to have collaborated with prosecutors in the case against Adams, has reportedly been dismissed from her role.
Phil Banks is particularly noteworthy as the highest-ranking official to step down amidst this upheaval. His home was searched by federal investigators on September 4, just as inquiries were being conducted involving his brother, David Banks, and his then-fiancée, First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright. David Banks, who served as the city’s education chief, had resigned early from his post. While reports indicate that Sheena Wright also intends to resign, this has yet to be confirmed. Furthermore, a third brother, Terence Banks, is currently under federal investigation.
According to The City, Zheng Qirong’s attorney, Steven Brill, stated that her resignation was a personal decision and claimed he was unaware of any city pressure influencing her departure. Zheng has been a volunteer with Adams since 2014, focusing on strengthening connections with the Chinese and Asian communities. She played a key role in fundraising for Adams’ mayoral campaign in 2021 but has faced media scrutiny for alleged financial issues and claims that she assisted the Chinese government and pro-communist groups in swaying Adams’ policies, sometimes at the expense of interactions with Taiwan. Earlier this year, the FBI searched her home, but she has yet to be charged with any wrongdoing. Currently, Zheng’s phone is no longer operational, and the city has provided no comment on her resignation.
Rana Abbasova also played a crucial role as a liaison between Adams and the Russian-speaking and Muslim communities in New York. After being investigated by federal authorities last November, she has been on unpaid leave since. Reports suggest that a substantial amount of evidence regarding Adams’ alleged connections was handed to prosecutors by an unnamed “city insider,” believed to be Abbasova. While this has not been confirmed in public, it appears that Adams’ legal team is attempting to undermine her credibility, hinting at deeper challenges.
The list of senior officials either resigning or expected to depart Adams’ administration continues to expand, with former Police Commissioner Edward Caban, Health Commissioner Ashwin Wasan, and Senior Advisors Lisa Zornberg and Timothy Pearson all facing federal investigations. Additionally, Wright is reportedly planning to resign within the week.
