By: Rob Otto

Tim Pearson, a long-time confidante and senior advisor to Mayor Eric Adams, has resigned under mounting pressure as a federal corruption probe tightens its grip on City Hall, the New York Post reports. Pearson’s departure marks another blow to the beleaguered administration, which has faced a string of controversies and investigations.

Pearson’s resignation takes effect Friday, nearly a month after he was one of several high-ranking Adams administration officials whose devices were seized in dramatic federal raids on September 4. His decision to step down follows the recent indictment of Mayor Adams on five federal criminal counts.

Mayor Adams, who has had a decades-long friendship with Pearson, offered a brief statement on Monday acknowledging his aide’s departure. “Tim has had a long career in both the public and private sectors, where he has spent over 30 years keeping New Yorkers safe,” Adams said. “We appreciate Tim’s decades of service to this city and wish him well.”

According to sources cited by the Post, Pearson actually agreed to resign two weeks ago but delayed formalizing his decision until Monday. Pearson, a retired NYPD inspector, has been a controversial figure since joining the administration, overseeing security contracts for migrant shelters. Allegations surfaced that Pearson manipulated contractor selection processes in exchange for kickbacks, prompting federal scrutiny.

The probe into Pearson’s activities includes investigations into his work with the obscure city unit known as the Municipal Services Assessment, which allegedly involved interference in city contracting. Federal agents have reportedly questioned police officers associated with the unit about Pearson’s involvement in these contracts.

Additional troubling details emerged from an April lawsuit that claims Pearson openly discussed his intent to profit from the city contracts, reportedly saying, “People are doing very well on these contracts. I have to get mine. Where are my crumbs?” according to court documents.

In his resignation letter to Mayor Adams, Pearson made no mention of the controversies surrounding his two-year tenure at City Hall. Instead, he stated that he intends to focus on “family, self-care, and new endeavors.” He also highlighted his perceived contributions, claiming he played a “critical role” in addressing migrant services and security issues while advising on technology and NYPD matters. “I am proud of the work your administration has done for public safety and migrant services,” he wrote.

Despite his claims of significant involvement, Pearson had recently been stripped of his authority over the lucrative contracts for city migrant services. Mayor Adams asserted that the change was not punitive, but pressure had been mounting for Pearson’s removal, especially in light of investigations involving other officials such as Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks.

As late as last Tuesday, Mayor Adams was still defending Pearson, stating that his ally had saved the city millions of dollars by negotiating better terms for various contracts. “We asked him to go in and look in and we saved hundreds of millions of dollars by bringing down the costs, everything from security contracts to other contracts,” Adams said.

Beyond the federal investigation, Pearson has been embroiled in other scandals, including multiple allegations of sexual harassment, involvement in a physical altercation at a city migrant shelter, and a controversial arrangement where he remained on a casino’s payroll while serving in his city role. His exit follows the recent departure of several high-profile City Hall officials, as the Adams administration grapples with multiple federal probes.