First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright stepped out of her Harlem townhouse shiny and early Tuesday morning sporting a shiny, brand-new diamond infinity ring after her weekend marriage ceremony to David Banks, town’s embattled faculties chancellor.
The longtime lovers’ Martha’s Winery nuptials — which came about simply in the future after their boss, Mayor Eric Adams, appeared in Manhattan federal courtroom to reply sweeping corruption costs — has left some questioning if the couple tied the knot so they might declare “spousal privilege,” or the suitable to not testify towards one another.
However Wright ignored The Put up’s questions in regards to the marriage ceremony’s timing on Tuesday, as an alternative saying “I hope you might have a fantastic day” as she strode out to the ready black SUV parked exterior her dwelling.
Her new partner left the house a number of hours later, clutching newspapers and a pocket book as he walked out the door.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Banks stated when requested if the 2 married for spousal privilege.
He additionally stated that his marriage ceremony was “simply nice,” and stated the general public would “hear extra about it quickly.”
Banks and Wright have been collectively for greater than a decade, and so they stated they deliberate to marry final summer time — however by no means made it to the altar.
A federal raid on their Harlem dwelling early final month got here alongside comparable raids on high Adams officers and allies resembling former NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban and Banks’ brother, Deputy Mayor for Public Security Phil Banks.
Neither has been accused of against the law, although the feds seized each their telephones throughout their raids.
Sources have stated there could also be a number of corruption investigations into Adams’ internal circle, and so they might tie into the mayor’s historic federal felony costs.
Final week, a grand jury indicted Adams for allegedly taking bribes from Turkish officers and nationals, and defrauding taxpayers out of $10 million in matching marketing campaign finance funds.
The timing of the Wright-Banks marriage ceremony has raised questions amongst authorized observers and political insiders alike.
“Good ring — however they’ve nonetheless gotta sing,” one insider quipped.
Authorized consultants added that if their intent was to keep away from testifying within the Adams probe, it may not work out.
It may even backfire, and open them as much as an obstruction of justice cost if the feds discovered proof that they tied the knot to keep away from the stand, consultants stated.
“Spouses usually have the suitable to refuse to testify towards each other in federal circumstances, however that privilege disappears when each are co-defendants in the identical felony matter,” stated Duncan Levin, a protection lawyer and former federal prosecutor.
In addition they couldn’t declare spousal privilege if the feds requested them to speak about communications from earlier than they received married.
“If that is some grand Machiavellian scheme, it’s very more likely to to not work,” he stated.
Consultants additionally stated the Manhattan US Lawyer’s Workplace, which is driving a number of of the investigations, is well-versed in navigating such points.
“Typically talking, the spousal privilege solely protects communications throughout the marriage,” protection legal professional Andrew Fleischman posted on X.
“You’ll be able to’t simply marry all people you rob a financial institution with and hope they don’t snitch.”