New York City Mayor Eric Adams’s First Deputy Resigns

Former First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright speaks at Sheraton New York, on Sept. 20, 2023. John Lamparski/Getty Images for Concordia Summit

Sheena Wright, the second-in-command at City Hall under New York Mayor Eric Adams, has resigned, marking another high-profile departure as the embattled Adams administration faces mounting scrutiny.

Wright officially left her post on Tuesday. Her resignation follows a sprawling federal investigation into Adams and some of his top cabinet members.

Wright has served in the Adams administration since January 2022, initially as deputy mayor of strategic initiatives. She was promoted to first deputy mayor in 2023, where she oversaw broader mayoral initiatives and agencies, including the budget office and finance department.

“We are grateful for First Deputy Mayor Wright’s years of service to the city and all she has done to deliver for children, families, and working-class New Yorkers,” the mayor’s office told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement. “She is an exceptional leader who assembled a strong team and constantly demonstrated a bold vision for this city.”

Wright is expected to be replaced by Maria Torres-Springer, the deputy mayor for housing, economic development, and workforce.

“We are thrilled to elevate Deputy Mayor Torres-Springer, whose more than two decades of experience leading multiple city agencies and executing on one of the most successful housing and economic development agendas in the city’s history will serve as a solid foundation for our administration and best position us for the future,” the mayor’s office said in a press release.

With Wright’s resignation, all five senior officials whose homes were searched and phones seized by FBI agents on Sept. 4 have now either stepped down or announced plans to do so. These officials include her husband, outgoing Schools Chancellor David Banks; her brother-in-law, Phil Banks, who resigned as Deputy Mayor for Public Safety; Tim Pearson, a senior adviser to Adams; and Police Commissioner Edward Caban.

In her first comments after the FBI raids, Wright denied any wrongdoing, and there are no formal accusations against her.

“I am cooperating fully with any investigation. I’m confident that I have done nothing wrong, and I just remain committed to doing the work that we have to do,” she said at a Sept. 10 press conference.

Federal authorities have yet to disclose whether the raids are connected to the corruption charges against Adams, who is accused of accepting lavish overseas trips and illegal campaign donations from businesspeople and government officials in exchange for political favors.

The first-term mayor, now facing five criminal charges, has pleaded not guilty and resisted calls to resign following his indictment.

According to the indictment, Adams allegedly “not only accepted, but sought illegal campaign contributions to his 2021 mayoral campaign from foreign nationals, as well as other things of value.”

The indictment alleges that as Adams’s influence grew after becoming mayor, foreign nationals exploited their relationship with him, which Adams allowed by “providing favorable treatment in exchange for the illicit benefits he received.”

On Oct. 2, federal prosecutors suggested that Adams may face more charges and that others may be added to the mayor’s indictment as the case develops. The specifics of the potential charges remain unclear.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has the power to remove Adams from office, has confirmed that she has privately urged the mayor to make personnel changes. She called Pearson’s resignation a “good first step.”

“I’m just letting him know that we’re monitoring the situation,” Hochul told reporters at an Oct. 2 press conference. “We expect changes. That’s not a secret. And changes are beginning.”

Should Adams step down or be removed by the governor, he would be replaced by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. Comptroller Brad Lander, who is running for mayor, is next in line after Williams.

Matt McGregor contributed to this report.