Tim Pearson, aide to embattled Mayor Eric Adams, stepping down, lawyer says
New York City mayoral aide Tim Pearson has announced his resignation, effective Friday, his lawyer said late Monday. Credit: Newsday photo / Matthew Chayes
Tim Pearson, a controversial confidant to Eric Adams who is among the mayoral aides being investigated on suspicion of corruption, has resigned as Adams’ senior adviser, his attorney confirmed late Monday.
Pearson's resignation is effective Friday, said the attorney, Hugh Mo, of Manhattan. Pearson is the latest Adams aide to step down amid at least four investigations, including one that led to the mayor's indictment and arraignment last week on corruption charges.
"I think that he resigned to step aside so the mayor could continue to govern without any of the distractions," Mo told Newsday Monday evening.
The investigation into Pearson, who helped oversee contracting, ostensibly to cut costs, reportedly centers around whether he sought a cut of migrant contracting dollars. He is also being sued for sexual harassment by multiple accusers and under investigation for storming into a migrant shelter, failing to identify himself, beating up migrant shelter security guards and having them arrested.
Mo said none of those allegations are true.
"All of these allegations of alleged misconduct are not supported by facts," he said.
Pearson’s phone is among several electronic devices belonging to Adams' aides to be seized by federal investigators over the past year or so.
In the past month, resignations have included the police commissioner, health commissioner, chief counsel and schools chancellor.
Soon after being appointed, it was revealed that Pearson was triple dipping — drawing six figure salaries from a Queens casino, his police pension and his senior adviser job. He quit the casino job after news of it became public.
Mo declined to provide a copy of the resignation letter. He referred an inquiry to City Hall. Spokesman Fabien Levy, who didn’t provide Pearson's letter but sent a statement attributed to Adams: “Tim has had a long career in both the public and private sectors, where he has spent over 30 years keeping New Yorkers safe. We appreciate Tim’s decades of service to this city and wish him well.”
Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.
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