New York City Mayor Eric Adams' chief counsel quits amid criminal investigations

Lisa Zornberg, Mayor Eric Adams' chief City Hall counsel, abruptly resigned Saturday night, marking the immediate departure of his most vocal legal defender as he and his associates face multiple criminal investigations.

Her resignation letter said in its entirety: "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."

The announcement was made hours before midnight in a pair of prepared statements issued by Adams' press office.

"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," according to a statement attributed to Adams that said a replacement would be appointed in the coming days.

Zornberg's statement to the media said: "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 has been a stalwart defender of Adams, even as he has been buffeted by investigations.

She appeared at Adams' virtual side as recently as Tuesday to defend him, days after the FBI raided homes of several of his top aides, seizing their electronic devices. Last year, FBI agents seized Adams' devices, and it was Zornberg who was the lead City Hall official defending him.

Zornberg has frequently jumped in to stop Adams from answering questions from the media. She did so at Tuesday's news conference, held virtually because of what Adams said was a bout of COVID-19. Asked about the administration's refusal to comment on how many officials have been involved in the federal investigation or how many had their electronic devices seized, Zornberg declined to provide answers.

No one in Adams' circle has been charged with a crime. On Thursday, his police commissioner, Edward Caban, resigned following FBI raids that led to the seizure of his phones, his twin brother's phone and phones belonging to others in the NYPD.

In her capacity as chief counsel to Adams, Zornberg oversaw 10 city agencies or commissions, including on labor relations, human rights, contract services, disabilities, administrative trials and hearings, and business integrity.

Her predecessor at City Hall, Brendan McGuire, left the post to return to private practice, where one of his clients is Adams.

At a news conference last year announcing Zornberg's appointment, Adams said it’s important to employ a former prosecutor to address conduct "way before people go across the line."

"You shouldn't wait until someone crossed the line that they can come in and give us the advice on proper practices, proper procedures, how to do things correctly," Adams said then.

By Matthew Chayes

matthew.chayes@newsday.comchayesmatthew

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