David Banks, the outgoing New York City Schools Chancellor, and Sheena Wright, First Deputy Mayor, are reportedly marrying this weekend on Martha’s Vineyard amid swirling speculation that their wedding might offer legal protections in an ongoing federal corruption investigation. The couple, both top aides to Mayor Eric Adams, have kept quiet about their nuptial plans, but insiders confirmed the event was set to take place in the upscale Massachusetts island.
“They’re definitely getting married,” a source close to Banks revealed to The New York Post. Earlier this month, Wright’s Harlem residence was raided by the FBI, during which her phone was seized. The couple shares the Harlem home, although Banks also owns a property in Queens, which was also searched by federal agents. His phone was confiscated as part of the same investigation.
The exact reason for the raids remains unclear, but the backdrop is Mayor Adams’ recent indictment on charges of wire fraud and bribery. He has become the first sitting mayor of New York City to face federal indictment, a development that has sent shockwaves through City Hall. The five-count indictment accuses Adams of accepting lavish gifts from Turkish officials and businesspeople, including more than $120,000 in free hotel stays and heavily discounted flights. In exchange, Adams allegedly pressured city officials to waive fire inspections and fast-track approval for the Turkish Consulate’s construction in Manhattan. Additionally, prosecutors claim Adams fraudulently secured $10 million in public campaign funds.
Although Mayor Adams pleaded not guilty to all charges, the legal troubles are casting a long shadow over his administration. In this context, legal experts believe Banks and Wright’s marriage might provide them with a strategic legal advantage. Spouses, under federal law, cannot be compelled to testify against one another in criminal cases, a protection known as spousal immunity. Manhattan-based criminal defense lawyer Jeff Greco suggested the timing of their marriage might not be coincidental.
“There’s no doubt that they understand the optics of this, but the legal benefit far outweighs the public optics,” Greco commented.
Rumors about the couple’s wedding have circulated for some time. Initially, they were said to be planning a summer 2023 ceremony on Martha’s Vineyard, though those plans never materialized. Banks proposed two years ago after a lengthy relationship. Reflecting on their engagement in an interview with New York magazine in 2022, Banks joked, “It only took me 10 years [to propose]. We’ve been talking about this for a while and now living in Harlem together, and I said it’s time. We’ve both done this before, so just taking our time, no rush.”
As Banks prepares to leave his role as schools chancellor, he appeared at a press conference earlier in the week to announce his successor, Melissa Aviles-Ramos. During the event, Banks shared a warm moment with Wright, affectionately kissing her several times. Meanwhile, Adams remained in New York, attending an event at a church in Queens, with his representatives indicating he would be staying in the city over the weekend.
The mayor’s office has declined to comment on Banks and Wright’s marriage plans, while the Department of Education did not respond to requests for comment.
