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NYC moves to end legal representation of ex-Mayor Adams in sex abuse case

By

Rhiannon Rashidi

and

Samantha Max

Published Mar 17, 2026

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Mayor Eric Adams surrounded by people.

 

Adam Gray/Getty Images

By

Rhiannon Rashidi

and

Samantha Max

Published Mar 17, 2026

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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.

Tagged

Politics

new york city

Rhiannon Rashidi

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Samantha Max

Samantha reports on whether New Yorkers feel safe and whether the institutions that are supposed to protect them are working. Before coming to WNYC/Gothamist, she spent three years covering the criminal justice system in Tennessee for Nashville Public Radio. Her reporting on Nashville's police department received multiple awards, including the Daniel Schorr Journalism Prize. Samantha was also part of the inaugural class of Report for America, a service journalism program that sends up-and-coming reporters to local newsrooms across the country. She is a Northwestern University grad, a Baltimore native and fluent in Spanish. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or Signal: samanthamaxwnyc.93.

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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

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