(NewsNation) —New York City Mayor Eric Adams addressed the recent resignations by members of his administration during a regularly scheduled news conference Tuesday, nearly one week after he was indicted by a federal grand jury on criminal charges.
Tim Pearson, one of Adams’ closest aides, submitted his resignation Monday. Former New York City Police Department Commissioner Edward Caban and chief legal counsel Liza Zornberg both resigned in recent weeks as well. On Tuesday, Adams said Allison Stoddart was appointed as the new counsel for the city.
“Just as people are leaving, there are people who are coming in, and we’re going to continue to see that,” Adams told reporters. “You see that in government all the time.”
In particular, Pearson made the decision to “focus on another aspect of his life,” Adams said.
“I respect that he served this city as a police officer and in private and public,” he added.
NewsNation local affiliate WPIX reports Pearson will exit the administration effective Friday. Federal agents had seized cellphones, documents and cash from his Long Island home weeks ago. In addition, his role in a brawl at a migrant shelter is being looked into by New York City’s Department of Investigation. Multiple people are suing Pearson, and accusing him of sexually harassing female subordinates while leading a new unit created by Adams.
Pearson has not been publicly accused of wrongdoing by prosecutors, nor was he charged with a crime.
“A lot of allegations have been swirling in the media for months,” his attorney Hugh H. Mo said. “There are no merits to these allegations.”
Eric Adams’ indictment
Prosecutors unsealed an indictment last week alleging Adams “compounded his gains” from illegal campaign contributions by gaming the city’s matching funds program. Authorities say Adams’ campaign received more than $10 million in matching funds as a result of the false certifications.
In addition, the indictment accuses Adams of soliciting and demanding bribes, including free and heavily discounted luxury travel benefits from a Turkish official.
Adams, a Democrat, has pleaded not guilty and said he has no plans to resign. On Monday his attorneys filed a motion saying that the flights to overseas destinations, seat upgrades, free meals and free hotel rooms Adams got were not bribes under federal law.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.