Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration moved Tuesday to stop representing former Mayor Eric Adams in a lawsuit alleging Adams sexually abused an NYPD colleague more than three decades ago.
In a court filing Tuesday, Corporation Counsel Steve Banks wrote the city’s Law Department had determined Adams was not acting within the scope of his official duties at the time the alleged assault occurred.
“Based on my review of new evidence since the original decision to represent him was made, I have determined that he is not entitled to representation by the City in this matter,” Banks said in a statement. “Accordingly, the Law Department has asked the court to permit our office to withdraw from representing the former Mayor.”
Mamdani spokesperson Dora Pekec said in a separate statement that the mayor had no role in Banks’ decision.
“Mayor Adams… remains confident that the facts will ultimately prevail. We do not comment on ongoing litigation,” said Todd Shapiro, a spokesperson for Adams.
The alleged assault occurred in 1993, when Lorna Beach-Mathura and Eric Adams were both employed by the NYPD. Beach-Mathura claimed that Adams offered to help her with an employment issue, and then solicited oral sex. He then forced her to touch him, according to the lawsuit.
“It absolutely did not happen,” Adams previously said. “I don’t recall ever meeting this person. And I would never harm anyone in that magnitude.”
Beach-Mathura’s lawsuit was filed under the 2022 Adult Survivors Act, which allowed victims to bring claims of sexual abuse outside the statute of limitations.
Elizabeth Kim contributed reporting.