New York City wants former Mayor Eric Adams to find a new lawyer. In a court filing Tuesday, attorneys for the city's Law Department asked to be allowed to withdraw from defending Adams from a suit alleging he sexually assaulted a woman when he was a transit cop in 1993.
The lawsuit was brought by Lorna Beach-Mathura, who was a civilian employee of the Transit Police. Her suit alleges that her then-colleague Adams demanded oral sex in return for helping her get a promotion and exposed himself to her. The suit was filed two days before the expiration of the New York Adult Survivors Act, which gave adult sexual assault survivors one year to sue regardless of when the original statute of limitations expired.
What the Right Is Saying
Defenders of Adams have emphasized his denial of the allegations and his history of being cleared in previous matters. Todd Shapiro, a spokesman for Adams, said in a statement that the former mayor "has been proven innocent before and remains confident that the facts will ultimately prevail." Shapiro added that Adams does not comment on ongoing litigation.
Some conservative commentators have questioned the timing of the city's decision, noting that it comes as Adams remains a vocal critic of Mamdani's administration. They have also pointed out that the case involves allegations from 1993, raising questions about why it is being pursued now after decades.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive critics and supporters of current Mayor Zohran Mamdani have pointed to the city's decision as a sign that Adams should no longer receive preferential treatment. The Law Department's new determination that Adams was not acting within the scope of his city employment at the time means he is no longer entitled to taxpayer-funded representation. Corporation Counsel Steven Banks, whom Mamdani named as the city's top lawyer, said he reviewed new evidence since the original decision to represent Adams was made and determined Adams is not entitled to representation at city expense.
Some progressive voices have noted that Adams dropped out of last year's mayoral contest after his poll ratings plummeted and amid federal bribery charges against him, which were later dropped by the Justice Department under President Donald Trump. Adams has pleaded not guilty to those charges.
What the Numbers Show
When the suit was first filed in 2023, city lawyers determined that based on "the facts and circumstances known at that time," the then-mayor was "eligible for representation." The city's Law Department based its original decision on the understanding that Adams was acting within his scope of employment as a transit cop.
The new decision to withdraw stems from "paper discovery and the deposition testimony of Lorna Beach-Mathura," according to the court filing. The Adult Survivors Act, which expired in 2022, provided a one-year window for adult sexual assault survivors to file lawsuits regardless of the original statute of limitations.
Adams was charged with federal bribery crimes in 2024, but those charges were dropped by the Justice Department under President Donald Trump. He pleaded not guilty to those charges.
The Bottom Line
The city's decision to stop defending Adams means he must now fund his own legal defense in the civil case. The lawsuit is separate from the federal criminal case that resulted in charges against Adams, which were later dismissed. Beach-Mathura's attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the city's move. The case will proceed with Adams defending himself individually, while the city has withdrawn its representation.