New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ chief adviser resigned late Saturday night amid ongoing multiple federal criminal investigations into the mayor’s administration.
Lisa Zornberg’s resignation comes just two days after NYPD Commissioner Edward Cavan resigned after authorities searched his home and seized his cell phone.
“I have determined that I can no longer effectively fulfill the responsibilities of my position and am tendering my resignation, effective immediately,” Sonberg said in a statement shared by the mayor’s office.
Adams thanked Sonberg for his work but did not give reasons for his resignation as top adviser.
“These are hard jobs and no one expects to be in them forever,” the mayor said in a statement.
Adams said the administration would name a successor “in the coming days.”
The chief counsel’s resignation comes after several senior New York City officials appointed by the mayor who are under investigation for corruption that appears unrelated to the case also had their homes searched last week.
As part of the investigation, cellphones were seized from those of Cavan and his twin brother, First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III and New York City Public Schools Chancellor David C. Banks.
Sonberg, a former Manhattan prosecutor, consulted with the mayor on legal and strategic advice to City Hall.
She sat next to Adams during the weekly press conference and answered media questions about the multiple federal investigations into the administration.
In his resignation statement, Sonberg did not give a reason for his departure, but said he was “deeply grateful to Mayor Adams for the opportunity to serve our City, and I strongly support the work he has done and will continue to do for the people of New York.”
Since being sworn in on the first day of 2022, Adams and his colleagues have faced increased scrutiny from the federal government.
The FBI searched the homes of Adams’ fundraising chief Brianna Suggs and other members of his campaign last year, and the investigation appears to be focused on whether Adams accepted illegal campaign funds from the Turkish government or other foreign sources.
A source familiar with the matter told the BBC that last week’s raids did not appear to be linked to the Turkish investigation.