Chief Law Counsel Lisa Zornberg’s unexpected departure from the Adams administration, announced late on Saturday night, seemed to heighten the turbulence that has consumed City Hall in recent weeks.
Zornberg, who became chief counsel in July 2023 and had been a fixture at recent press conferences addressing several ongoing investigations involving close associates of Mayor Eric Adams, offered gratitude to, and support for, the mayor in her departing remarks released by City Hall just after 10:30 p.m. on Sept. 14. However, neither Zornberg nor the mayor’s office provided a reason for her leaving the administration.
“I am deeply grateful to Mayor Adams for giving me the opportunity to serve the city, and I strongly support the work he has done and continues to do for New Yorkers,” Zornberg said.
Mayor Adams, in a statement, wished Zornberg “all the best in her future endeavors” and said that “the other senior members of the counsel’s team will remain in their roles to ensure the office continues to fully operate without issue.”
“[W]e expect to name an acting chief counsel in the coming days,” Adams added.
Hizzoner elaborated further on Zornberg’s resignation ahead of the African-American Day Parade in Harlem on Sunday afternoon. He said that Zornberg made the decision to depart on her own accord following a conversation in which she expressed that “she wanted to go on with the next level of her professional life.”
“Listen, you’re never happy to see a well-qualified person like Lisa leave,” Adams said Sunday. “She loves this city. And you know, not only has she been just a great advisor and friend and confidant, you know, she brought a lot of experience to the administration and so. But she wants to do other things with her life, and I respect that.”
However, a copy of Zornberg’s resignation letter obtained by NY1 seemed to indicate the departure was not as cordial as the mayor described.
In the three-sentence letter dated Sept. 14, Zornberg explained to Mayor Adams that she tendered her resignation “as I have concluded that I can no longer effectively serve in my position.”
“I wish you nothing but the best,” Zornberg closed in her letter to Adams.
What comes next?
The mayor is now considering several “a number of individuals” to succeed Zornberg as chief counsel, according to a City Hall spokesperson, though their names could not be shared with amNewYork Metro at this time.
The Chief Counsel provides guidance on legislation, policy matters, ethics, transparency and other matters to the mayor and administrative members, according to the city’s website. Unlike the chief corporation counsel post, appointments to the Chief Counsel office do not require advice and consent from the City Council.
Mayor Adams did not go into specifics Sunday about who might be under consideration as Chief Counsel — including whether Randy Mastro, who withdrew his nomination as chief corporation counsel following City Council opposition, might be in the mix for the post.
Zornberg leaves the Adams administration at a time when other members of the mayor’s team are in the spotlight of several ongoing federal investigations. These investigations have, in many respects, undermined the administration’s ability as a second-term campaign for Adams looms next year.
Federal investigators have trained their focus in recent weeks on First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks, and Senior Public Safety Adviser Tim Pearson.
Wright, who is long-time partner to Schools Chancellor David Banks, and Phil Banks (the school chancellor’s brother) had their homes raided by FBI agents on Sept. 4. The raid does not appear to be connected to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York investigation of Mayor Adams’ 2021 campaign and its suspected dealings with the Turkish government.
The New York Times reported that two additional federal investigations are underway into a suspected bribery scheme connected to city contracts and a corruption investigation tied to the NYPD’s enforcement of nightlife establishments. The latter led to Edward Caban’s resignation last week as police commissioner after federal investigators seized his electronic devices as part of the probe, which involves Caban’s twin brother, James.
Updated on Sept. 15 at 12:11 p.m.
