(NewsNation) — The New York Police Department’s commissioner, Edward Caban, is facing pressure from NYC council members to resign because of a federal investigation into the mayor’s administration.
Sources tell NewsNation that Caban could step down this week.
This comes after Caban’s phone was seized Wednesday as part of a probe by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. Six other high-ranking members of the New York Police Department also had their phones seized.
In particular, federal officials are looking into Caban’s contracts, permits and other dealings with nightclubs, bars and restaurants.
NYPD deputy police commissioner Tarik Sheppard said that the department is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
“The police commissioner has made no indication to anybody in his department that he’s going to resign,” Sheppard said. “Until we hear different he’s our leader and we go forward and do our jobs.”
Federal agents last week also raided the homes of other top officials in New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ administration: Deputy mayors Sheena Wright and Phillip Banks. New York City Public Schools Chancellor David Banks, who is Wright’s partner, also had his home searched.
Adams told NewsNation local affiliate WPIX he doesn’t know why his staff’s homes were raided, or why the phones were taken.
“I think that the Southern district, which has conducted this review, they can answer those questions,” Adams said in the WPIX interview. “What I must do is what I have always done as former law enforcement — follow the rules, follow the law, and anything we can do to assist, we are doing.”
The mayor said he has turned over what was asked of him, claiming it will reveal he has done nothing wrong.
Federal officials have “not indicated to us the mayor or his staff are targets of any investigation,” Lisa Zornberg, chief counsel for City Hall, said.
