New York City’s chief legal adviser, Lisa Zornberg, resigned unexpectedly over the weekend amid ongoing federal investigations involving Mayor Eric Adams’ administration. City Hall disclosed Zornberg’s departure late on Saturday night. Zornberg had served as a legal strategist for Adams and other city officials for over a year, frequently addressing legal inquiries from the media on behalf of the administration. However, she was not Adams’ personal attorney.
In her resignation letter to Mayor Adams, Zornberg stated, “It has been a great honor to serve the City. I am tendering my resignation, effective today, as I have concluded that I can no longer effectively serve in my position. I wish you nothing but the best.”
This resignation follows the confiscation of phones from several of Mayor Adams’ close associates by federal investigators, including Edward Caban, the head of New York City’s police department, who also resigned on Thursday citing the “distraction” caused by the investigations.
Although Zornberg was not among those whose phones were seized, her departure adds to the growing list of administration members affected by the federal probes. In addition to the police commissioner, the phones of the head of the public schools system, a senior deputy mayor, and two top advisers on public safety were also taken by investigators.
Devices were confiscated from James Caban, Edward Caban’s twin brother and a former NYPD sergeant, who now operates a nightclub security business. Searches were also conducted concerning Terence Banks, brother to Phil Banks, Adams’ top deputy on public safety, and Education Chancellor David Banks.
The investigations, the specifics of which federal authorities have not disclosed, have also previously resulted in the seizure of Mayor Adams’ phones, searches of a prominent campaign fundraiser’s home, and searches of two residences linked to his director of Asian affairs.
Mayor Adams has publicly denied any knowledge of wrongdoing connected to these investigations.
A temporary replacement for Zornberg is expected to be appointed shortly. Adams expressed his appreciation for Zornberg’s contributions, stating, “We appreciate all the work Lisa has done for our administration and, more importantly, the city over the past 13 months. These are hard jobs and we don’t expect anyone to stay in them forever. We wish Lisa all the best in her future endeavors.”