New York, US: A former aide to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Tim Pearson, has been cleared by law enforcement after facing a rape allegation from 2013 that was determined to be unfounded during a recently revealed internal investigation.
Allegation Dates Back Over a Decade
According to an internal New York Police Department (NYPD) report released Friday, a woman accused Tim Pearson of raping her in Nassau County in 2013. The complaint became public as part of a transparency initiative, renewing scrutiny of a sensitive and complex case that initially attracted little public notice.
The woman, whose identity remains confidential, reported her allegation not only to Nassau County police but also to two then-senior NYPD officials: Phil Banks, the Chief of Department at that time, and Rodney Harrison, who served in the Internal Affairs Bureau. The complainant claimed her notice to these officials did not trigger appropriate follow-up from the department, further alleging institutional failure to investigate her charge thoroughly.
Investigation and Police Response
Nassau County detectives conducted the initial inquiry and, after their review, deemed the allegation “unfounded.” According to the NYPD’s summary of the investigation, police believed the accusation may have arisen from issues related to the complainant’s personal relationship with Pearson.
By the time the woman came forward within the NYPD, Tim Pearson was no longer a member of the force, complicating any potential departmental response. NYPD officials said this context meant their jurisdiction and ability to take further action were limited.
In 2015, the woman escalated her complaint, this time accusing the NYPD’s Banks and Harrison of neglecting their responsibilities to investigate her initial report. This triggered an internal probe by NYPD Internal Affairs, which ultimately exonerated the officers, pointing out that the case fell outside their purview due to Pearson’s separation from the department at the relevant time.
Divergent Accounts Persist
The conclusion of the investigation has not ended the dispute. The complainant maintains her account of rape is accurate, expressing frustration that her perspective was not included fully in official summaries. She rejected the Nassau County detective’s account, stating, “Those are Pearson’s words. They are not mine,” in regards to the characterization of the complaint as relationship conflict.
Pearson, through his attorney, declined to comment on the case when contacted. City Hall confirmed that Pearson was not a member of Eric Adams’ administration when either the incident or the complaint took place. “Tim Pearson does not work for this administration and he was not a city employee when these allegations — which were determined to be unsubstantiated by law enforcement — were reported or when they allegedly took place,” a City Hall spokesperson said.
Wider Context
This development arrives amidst continuing public debate about police accountability, sexual assault investigations, and transparency in city government. As with many sensitive cases in recent years, there is contention between advocates for survivors and those concerned about due process.
For now, law enforcement has closed this chapter, citing a lack of credible evidence and the conclusion that no crime had occurred. Still, the allegation—and the woman’s conviction that she was not heard—remains a reminder of the challenges that surround such investigations, for both individuals and institutions navigating complex allegations in the public eye.
This article aims to inform readers about the facts and nuances of the recently resurfaced 2013 allegation involving a former aide to Eric Adams, reflecting both the findings of law enforcement and the perspectives of those involved.
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