The administration of Mayor Zohran Mamdani has moved to withdraw municipal legal representation for former Mayor Eric Adams in a civil lawsuit alleging sexual assault dating back more than three decades.
Legal Decision by City Officials
In a court filing, Steve Banks, head of the city’s Law Department, stated that Adams is not entitled to legal representation by the city.
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“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.
The New York City Law Department has formally requested permission from the court to withdraw from the case, arguing that the alleged incident did not occur within the scope of Adams’ official duties.
Allegations and Background
The lawsuit was filed by Lorna Beach-Mathura, who alleges that in 1993, while both she and Adams were employed by the New York City Police Department, Adams sexually assaulted her.
According to the complaint, Beach-Mathura claims Adams offered assistance with a workplace issue before allegedly soliciting sexual acts and forcing physical contact.
Adams has strongly denied the allegations.
“It absolutely did not happen,” he previously stated. “I don’t recall ever meeting this person. And I would never harm anyone in that magnitude.”
Administration Response
A spokesperson for Mayor Mamdani said the mayor had no involvement in the legal determination, emphasizing that the decision was made independently by the Corporation Counsel.
Meanwhile, a representative for Adams maintained that he remains confident the case will ultimately be resolved in his favour.
Legal Framework
The lawsuit was brought under the Adult Survivors Act, enacted in 2022, which temporarily allowed individuals to file civil claims for sexual abuse even after the statute of limitations had expired.
Next Steps
If the court approves the request, Adams will need to secure private legal representation as the case proceeds.
The development marks a significant shift in the city’s position and could have implications for how similar cases involving public officials are handled in the future.
