Deputy Mayor for Public Safety in New York City has become the latest to resign in the midst of a growing scandal involving Mayor Eric Adams (D) and some members of his administration and staff.
Banks is part of the probe involving Adams, which led to an Adams indictment two weeks ago on bribery and corruption charges.
Adams has not yet resigned and insists that he is innocent of any wrongdoing.
Banks's home was raided by the FBI on September 4 as part of the investigation and his devices were seized.
Adams said he had spoken to Banks about the resignations and his plans afterward.
“We spoke yesterday and we spoke again this morning,” Adams said Monday morning on NY1.
“He stated that he wanted 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 are doing in the city and I accepted his resignation,” he continued.
“I wish my good friend well,” he added. Adams also praised the public work of Banks during his remarks.
According to reports, Banks had wanted to resign before the federal probe, but once his home was raided, he decided to stay and fight the investigation.
The investigation of Banks is looking into whether he funneled contracts to companies linked to his brother Terrence Banks.
Saferwatch, IT companies Derive Technologies and SVAM International and grocery store delivery app Mercato are some of the companies working with Terrence Banks that allegedly got contracts with the city.
The Adams indictment includes five charges, but so far no one else has been charged in the probe.
There are definitely suspicions about the involvement of several others in the deal, however. For one, retired NYPD Inspector Tim Pearson, who was in charge of migrant contracts, also resigned amid investigation by the feds.
Adams has reportedly gotten pressure from NY Governor Kathy Hochul (D) to pressure more top aides and officials to resign amid the probe.
