First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright emerged brightly from her Harlem townhouse early Tuesday morning, wearing a sparkling new diamond infinity ring after her weekend wedding to the city's embattled president, David Banks. was.
The longtime lovebirds' Martha's Vineyard wedding came just one day after their boss, Mayor Eric Adams, appeared in Manhattan federal court on widespread corruption charges, but the couple's “spousal Some people wonder if they got married to claim “privileges.” ”, or the right not to testify against each other.
But Wright ignored The Post's questions about the timing of Tuesday's wedding, instead saying, “I hope you have a great day,” and leaving a black car parked outside her home to wait. I started walking towards the SUV.
A few hours later, her new spouse walked out the door clutching a newspaper and notebook.
When asked if the two married for spousal privileges, Banks replied, “Don't be ridiculous.”
He also said his wedding was “absolutely beautiful” and said the public “will be learning more about it soon.”
Banks and Wright have been dating for more than 10 years and were planning to get married last summer, but the ceremony never happened.
A federal raid on his Harlem home early last month led to the arrest of Mr. Adams' top officials and allies, including former NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban and Mr. Banks' brother, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks. A similar raid was also carried out.
Neither man has been charged with a crime, but federal authorities seized both cellphones during the raid.
Officials said there may be multiple corruption investigations into Adams' aides that could lead to historic federal criminal charges against the mayor.
Last week, a grand jury indicted Adams on charges of accepting bribes from Turkish officials and citizens and defrauding taxpayers of $10 million in campaign funds.
The timing of the Lightbanks' wedding has raised questions among legal and political insiders alike.
“It's a nice ring, but they still have to sing,” one source joked.
Legal experts added that if their intention was to avoid testifying in the Adams investigation, it might not work.
Experts say it could backfire and even lead to obstruction of justice charges if federal authorities find evidence they married to avoid the stand.
“Spouses typically have the right to refuse to testify against each other in a federal case, but when they are co-defendants in the same criminal case,” said Duncan Levin, a defense attorney and former federal prosecutor, Privileges disappear.”
Nor can you claim spousal privilege if federal authorities ask you to discuss your premarital communications.
“If this is some grand Machiavellian plan, there's a very good chance it won't work,” he says.
Experts also said the Manhattan federal prosecutor's office, which has several investigations underway, is well-versed in dealing with such issues.
“Generally speaking, spousal privilege only protects communications within a marriage,” attorney Andrew Fleischman wrote in a post on X.
“You can't just marry everyone you rob a bank with and hope they don't snitch on you.”
