NYC Mayor Eric Adams demotes brother after backlash

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has demoted his younger brother from deputy NYPD commissioner – a post that comes with a $240,000 salary – to a slightly less lucrative position of director of his security detail after facing accusations of nepotism. 

Bernard Adams, 56, a retired NYPD sergeant who had spent the past decade overseeing parking at a Virginia university, will now serve as executive director of mayoral security, overseeing the unit that protects his brother’s safety. He will earn $210,000 a year.

In an interview with Jake Tapper on CNN‘s State of the Union on Sunday, the mayor vehemently defended his brother’s appointment.  

© Provided by Daily Mail
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, pictured in white, has demoted his younger brother, Bernard, seen at the lectern, from deputy NYPD commissioner deputy director of his security detail

© Provided by Daily Mail
On Sunday, Adams defended his decision to hire his brother as director of his security unit, saying that he is qualified for the job, and that he trusts his sibling ‘deeply’ 

‘My brother is qualified for the position,’ Adams declared. ‘Number one, he will be in charge of my security, which is extremely important to me at a time when we see an increase in white supremacy and hate crimes.’

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Adams argued that his brother understands that as the mayor of New York City, he must strike the right balance between being protected from possible threats and being approachable to his constituents. 

‘He understands law enforcement,’ Adams said. ‘He’s a 20-year retired veteran from the police department, and I need someone that I trust around me during these times for my security, and I trust my brother deeply.’  

When asked about nepotism concerns, Adams told Tapper that the New York City’s Conflicts of Interest Board is currently reviewing his brother’s appointment.

According to internal NYPD documents cited by the New York Times, Bernard has been on the city’s payroll since December 30, before his brother was sworn in as mayor, but City Hall did not reach out to the Conflicts of Interest Board until January 7, when the New York Post broke the news about the hiring. 

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