On September 30, Timothy Pearson, a senior advisor to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, stepped down, marking another departure among the mayor’s inner circle. Pearson, a long-term confidant of Adams, is closely associated with several individuals tied to the mayor’s ongoing legal challenges and is currently under federal investigation, although he has denied any wrongdoing.
Pearson’s attorney, Mo Hu, confirmed that his official term would end on October 4. In his resignation letter, Pearson expressed a desire to start a new chapter in his life, focusing on family, personal well-being, and new career opportunities. Mayor Adams praised Pearson’s contributions in a statement.
According to public records, Pearson developed a close relationship with Adams while both served on the police force, with Pearson serving as an officer and Adams as an active member. After leaving the police department, Pearson spent 11 years at Resorts World Casino in New York. When Adams was elected mayor in 2022, he appointed Pearson as a senior advisor with an annual salary exceeding $240,000.
The New York Times reported that around that time, Resorts World was lobbying the city for business expansion, prompting Pearson to resign from the casino to avoid any conflicts of interest. Adams later appointed Pearson to the New York City Economic Development Corporation, navigating state regulations that allowed Pearson to maintain a significant pension from the police department while working for the administration.
During his time at City Hall, Pearson has been involved in various scandals. As noted by “The City,” he faced scrutiny in 2023 for an altercation with security personnel at an unlicensed shelter in Manhattan, where he reportedly instigated the incident and ordered police to arrest two security guards who had been assaulted.
Earlier this year, several current and former police officers accused Pearson of sexual harassment of female subordinates during his tenure in the department and claimed he retaliated against male supervisors who intervened.
In July, a police department official filed a lawsuit against Pearson, alleging he wielded considerable influence over personnel decisions despite lacking an official position within the department. Additionally, Pearson accompanied Adams on at least two international trips, including one to Turkey, which has been linked to the mayor’s legal troubles.
In early September, FBI agents seized Pearson’s electronic devices; however, he has not yet faced any charges. Throughout these incidents, Adams has continued to defend Pearson. Reports indicate that one of the reasons behind the resignation of Adams’s former chief legal advisor, Lisa Zornberg, was her concerns about the mayor’s refusal to act on advice to terminate Pearson’s position.
Mo Hu, representing Pearson, stated that all allegations against him are “false and defamatory.”
