Newly married NYC deputy mayor, embattled schools chancellor spotted as questions fly over possible testimony in federal probe
First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright stepped out of her Harlem townhouse bright and early Tuesday morning sporting a sparkly, brand-new diamond infinity ring after her weekend wedding to David Banks, the city’s embattled schools chancellor.
The longtime lovers’ Martha’s Vineyard nuptials — which took place just one day after their boss, Mayor Eric Adams, appeared in Manhattan federal court to answer sweeping corruption charges — has left some wondering if the couple tied the knot so they could claim “spousal privilege,” or the right not to testify against each other.
But Wright ignored The Post’s questions about the wedding’s timing on Tuesday, instead saying “I hope you have a great day” as she strode out to the waiting black SUV parked outside her home.
Her new spouse left the home several hours later, clutching newspapers and a notebook as he walked out the door.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Banks said when asked if the two married for spousal privilege.
He also said that his wedding was “just great,” and said the public would “hear more about it soon.”
Banks and Wright have been together for more than a decade, and they said they planned to marry last summer — but never made it to the altar.
A federal raid on their Harlem home early last month came alongside similar raids on top Adams officials and allies such as former NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban and Banks’ brother, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks.
Neither has been accused of a crime, though the feds seized both their phones during their raids.
Sources have said there may be multiple corruption investigations into Adams’ inner circle, and they may tie into the mayor’s historic federal criminal charges.
Last week, a grand jury indicted Adams for allegedly taking bribes from Turkish officials and nationals, and defrauding taxpayers out of $10 million in matching campaign finance funds.
The timing of the Wright-Banks wedding has raised questions among legal observers and political insiders alike.
“Nice ring — but they’ve still gotta sing,” one insider quipped.
Legal experts added that if their intent was to avoid testifying in the Adams probe, it might not work out.
It could even backfire, and open them up to an obstruction of justice charge if the feds found evidence that they tied the knot to avoid the stand, experts said.
“Spouses generally have the right to refuse to testify against one another in federal cases, but that privilege disappears when both are co-defendants in the same criminal matter,” said Duncan Levin, a defense lawyer and former federal prosecutor.
They also couldn’t claim spousal privilege if the feds asked them to talk about communications from before they got married.
“If this is some grand Machiavellian scheme, it’s very likely to not to work,” he said.
Experts also said the Manhattan US Attorney’s Office, which is driving several of the investigations, is well-versed in navigating such issues.
“Generally speaking, the spousal privilege only protects communications within the marriage,” defense attorney Andrew Fleischman posted on X.
“You can’t just marry everybody you rob a bank with and hope they don’t snitch.”
