Mayor Adams says raid on NYPD interim commissioner's homes was 'private matter'

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Tuesday he's "comfortable" with the NYPD's interim police commissioner, Tom Donlon, whose homes were raided late last week by federal agents seeking documents in his possession.

Speaking at City Hall, Adams described the raid, a result of search warrants, as "a private matter that he was dealing with."

"It had nothing to do with his role as the police commissioner," said Adams, who, along with members of his inner circle, administration and political campaign, has been the subject of seizures by federal authorities conducting criminal investigations. Adams' own electronic devices were seized last year.

Donlon, a former FBI agent, state homeland security official and principal at a private security firm, was appointed Sept. 12 to be interim NYPD commissioner, following the abrupt resignation of Edward Caban, whose own home was raided by federal authorities reportedly investigating an illegal protection racket for bars and nightclubs.

The Donlon raids were disclosed Saturday evening by the NYPD's press office, which issued a statement on the police commissioner's behalf that what was seized are "materials that came into my possession approximately 20 years ago and are unrelated to my work with the New York City Police Department."

The nature of the material hasn't been disclosed.

Separately, the schools chancellor, David Banks, said Tuesday afternoon he'll step down at the end of 2024.

Banks, whose home the FBI raided earlier this month, is one of at least a dozen people connected to Adams to be served with subpoenas, had warrants issued at their homes or had phones seized in a hydra-headed corruption investigation. Two of Banks' brothers — Phil, a deputy mayor for public safety, and Terence, who runs a government consulting firm — are among those who have been subject to federal investigative actions.

No one's been charged with wrongdoing.

David Banks was appointed in 2022 to lead the city school system, the nation's largest, with nearly 1 million pupils.

Earlier this week, the city health commissioner, Dr. Ashwin Vasan, announced his resignation, and earlier this month, Adams' chief counsel, Lisa Zornberg, quit abruptly on a Saturday night, "as I have concluded that I can no longer effectively serve in my position." 

Zach Iscol, the emergency management commissioner, was considering resigning but announced earlier this week that he is staying.

Asked about all the tumult — investigations and resignations, including of Caban, the city's first Hispanic police commissioner — and how constituencies such as Hispanic New Yorkers might react, Adams said: "I would tell them, this is our city, mi casa, su casa, and we gonna be all right."

Adams said he had no plans to resign.

"I'm stepping up, not stepping down," he said. "I have a city to run."

Regarding the Donlon raids, Adams referred inquiries to the FBI and local U.S. Attorney's Office, neither of which has commented. Adams didn't disclose details about his conversation with Donlon, whom he called "a great New Yorker."

"Our federal authorities must work closely with the New York City Police Department. We're dealing with terrorism. We're dealing with dangerous gangs that come across our borders. We're dealing with immigration issues," Adams said, "So it's important to do so."

Hours before news broke of David Banks' resignation, Adams told reporters at the news conference that "employees and staffers come and go, they come and go. Very few remain throughout an entire term."

"Working in government is hard, folks," Adams said. "It's hard, when you work in government, but you give your heart and you walk away feeling as though you accomplished something."

By Matthew Chayes

matthew.chayes@newsday.comchayesmatthew

Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.