**Mayor Adams' Legal Battle Intensifies Amid Staff Resignations**

NEW YORK (WABC) -- In a fierce legal response, lawyers for Mayor Eric Adams have accused federal prosecutors of serious misconduct through a court filing. They claim the prosecutors exhibited an “appalling disregard” for Adams' rights, alleging that grand jury material and other confidential information were improperly leaked. Attorney Alex Spiro has requested an evidentiary hearing and sanctions, aiming to hold the prosecutors accountable for what he describes as “brazen violations” of legal rules.

Despite the legal turmoil, Mayor Adams remains resolute in his duties, stating, "You are seeing, firsthand, my ability to stay focused. I have a city to run and I have an amazing team to do so. I can do this job and I will continue to do this job." Adams is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday for an initial hearing with the trial judge. He has already pleaded not guilty to a five-count indictment related to an alleged conspiracy to receive illegal foreign funds over several years, countering that his actions do not meet the criteria for bribery.

The legal challenges facing Adams coincide with significant upheaval within his administration. On Monday, Timothy Pearson, one of Adams' closest aides and a former high-ranking police department official, resigned. Pearson is the fifth senior figure to exit the administration in recent weeks, joining the ranks of former police commissioner Edward Caban, schools chancellor David Banks, chief legal advisor Lisa Zornberg, and health commissioner Ashwin Vasan. Pearson had been a senior advisor on public safety and is currently under investigation for his involvement in an altercation at a homeless migrant shelter. The FBI had seized his phone and served him a subpoena a month ago.

Mayor Adams acknowledged Pearson’s departure, noting that he "wanted to focus on another aspect of his life and deal with those items that he has to deal with... he’s moving on to the next level." The ongoing resignations and legal battles present a significant test for Adams as he works to maintain stability and governance in New York City.