NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Chief legal counsel at New York City Hall, Lisa Zornberg, resigned from her post on Saturday night as federal investigations continue to heighten turbulence in Mayor Eric Adams’ administration.
Zornberg, who became chief counsel in July 2023, resigned at 10:30 p.m. on Saturday with no explanation and no time for a replacement to be named.
Adams said in a statement that the other senior counsel members on the City Hall team will remain in their role, ensuring that the office remains fully operational. He plans to name an acting chief counsel in the coming days.
“We appreciate all the work Lisa has done for our administration and, more importantly, the city over the past 13 months,” the statement said. “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.”
City Hall’s chief counsel “provides legal guidance to the Mayor and senior policymakers in City Hall on issues including legislation, policy matters, compliance, ethics, and transparency,” according to the city website.
When hired to the role after 16 years at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York—the agency behind some of the federal investigations into the Adams administration—Zornberg was focused on facilitating good government.
“I believe strongly in the power of good government,” Zornberg said at the time. “Government run with integrity and passion for solving real problems remains the best way to lift up people and communities. And that's what I'm here to do.”
In her exit statement, provided by City Hall, she remained steadfast in the importance of the work that city government does for New Yorkers.
“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 said.
Her resignation comes at a time of legal turmoil for the Adams administration as federal investigations targeting top officials swarm City Hall. Only Thursday, former NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban resigned at the behest of growing concern about his ability to serve after investigators seized his electronics as part of the probe.
Devices were also seized from First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks and Senior Public Safety Adviser Tim Pearson as part of an investigation. Their homes—including the home of NYC Schools Chancellor David Banks, which he shares with Wright, his long-time partner—were raided on Sept. 4
The searches are not thought to be connected to the federal investigation involving Adams’ 2021 mayoral campaign finances and potential ties to the Turkish government, which was brought to public attention in November.