Tim Pearson seemed to be having fun circa 2021 at a Miley Cyrus pool party in Las Vegas.

But the party for Pearson may be over — facing a federal investigation and multiple lawsuits.


What You Need To Know

  • Tim Pearson joined the Adams administration in 2022 after knowing the mayor for more than 30 years

  • His responsibilities and duties are somewhat opaque

  • Pearson is one of several officials who were the subject of search warrants earlier this month

Back in 2021, he was running security for Resorts World New York City — the city's only casino in Queens.

It would be the following year Pearson would join the Adams administration as the senior adviser for public safety.

Since then, his role has been somewhat amorphous.

But there's one thing that is clear — he has the mayor's loyalty.

"So if you want to continue the narrative of that Eric only hires his friends,” the mayor said Tuesday. “No, I hired competent people that inherited a city that needed real leadership, and they brought that authentic leadership."

Pearson was one of five top Adams administration officials who were the subject of search warrants earlier this month.

As a result, the police commissioner resigned.

But the others remain, including Pearson.

The former NYPD inspector's exact job responsibilities are unclear. He initially advised the mayor on COVID protocols, then helped run a new group aimed at making government more efficient. He also helped steer the city's response to the migrant crisis.

Along the way, Pearson has created controversy.

He is the subject of four lawsuits filed this year accusing him of systemic sexual harassment and retaliation.

The lawsuits raise serious questions about his behavior, including his interest in city contracts.

According to one, Pearson allegedly said to a then-colleague, "Do you know how these contracts work? People are doing very well on these contracts. I have to get mine. Where are my crumbs?”

Their attorney, John Scola, said, "Tim Pearson used City Hall as his own personal tinder to sexually harass women and try to have sex with them and when they refuse his sexual advances he would retaliate and essentially end their careers."

The mayor said this week Pearson had some responsibility overseeing some city contracts including COVID spending.

"We asked him to go in and look in and we saved hundreds of millions of dollars by bringing down the costs, everything from security contracts to other contracts," the mayor said Tuesday.

The Department of Investigation is examining Pearson for another incident — allegedly attacking security guards at a migrant shelter in Manhattan last year.

Those guards have filed notice of claims with the city — intending to sue for false arrest and assault among other charges.