In 2023, a formal lawsuit was filed against former New York City Mayor Eric Adams, alleging that he sexually abused one of his colleagues while working as a transit cop for the NYPD in 1993. The lawsuit was brought upon under the Adult Survivors Act, a law that allows an extension of the time limit to bring sexual assault lawsuits in the state of New York. Since the lawsuit was filed, Adams has maintained his innocence and has publicly said he does not remember meeting the victim.
When the lawsuit was first filed, Adams was granted representation and counsel by New York City due to the evidence that had been presented at the time. He has been under city representation since the beginning of the lawsuit proceedings, and throughout his re-election campaign. However, on Tuesday, March 17, city lawyers moved to remove city-granted representation from the case. As evidence has continued to be introduced, the current council team have decided that Adams was not behaving in the appropriate scope of a city official during the time of the allegation, and that they will be dropping Adams as a client.
Steven Banks, who was named New York City’s top lawyer by current Mayor Mamdani, made the final decision in the manner. Due to the allegations against Adams and their negative reflection of his position as a city official, the city’s council do not believe he is entitled to representation from NYC. New York City’s Law Department has formally asked the court to allow the city’s council office to be removed from the case, meaning that Adams will have no representation connected to the city’s legal department as the case moves forward.
Mayor Mamdani did not have an impact on the council’s decision to terminate representation for the former Mayor. A spokesperson for the mayor’s office maintains that the decision was made by the corporation council under their own independent discretion, with no direction or instruction by Mamdani. However, it was also made evident that Mamdani holds support for the council to reach a fair and just decision in the matter.
Adams’ spokesperson, Todd Shapiro, declined any comments from Adams’ office on the removal of city representation. However, he continues to maintain his innocence in the case, and continues to deny the evidence being brought forward.
The lawsuit will continue to be heard in the NYC legal system.
