Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.) said she will host a meeting Tuesday with “key leaders” to discuss the “path forward” for New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D), days after the Justice Department (DOJ) ordered prosecutors to drop federal corruption charges against him.
The goal, according to Hochul, is to ensure “stability” for the Big Apple.
The anticipated meeting follows a string of resignations by staffers in the mayor’s office after they were subject to search warrants by the FBI due to the pending investigation.
Prosecutors have alleged that, starting in 2014, Adams sought and accepted “improper valuable benefits” from foreign businesspeople, including at least one Turkish government official, who was seeking to influence his decisions. Court filings also claim that by 2018, Adams not only accepted, but “sought” illegal campaign contributions for his 2021 mayoral bid — as well as “other things of value.”
Last week, Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove said the DOJ reached a decision to dismiss the charges. The move led several Justice officials to resign from their posts as well.
The most recent departures from Adams’ office include deputy mayors Maria Torres-Springer, Anne Williams-Isom and Meera Joshi.
“If they feel unable to serve in City Hall at this time, that raises serious questions about the long-term future of this Mayoral administration,” Hochul wrote in a Monday statement.
“I recognize the immense responsibility I hold as governor and the constitutional powers granted to this office,” she continued. “In the 235 years of New York State history, these powers have never been utilized to remove a duly-elected mayor; overturning the will of the voters is a serious step that should not be taken lightly.”
Hochul added, “That said, the alleged conduct at City Hall that has been reported over the past two weeks is troubling and cannot be ignored.’
The city’s charter outlines a process for removal in which the governor would have to notify Adams of “charges” she deems justify his dismissal. He would then be given an opportunity to defend himself.
New York’s top leaders have called on Adams to resign in recent weeks to no avail. Instead, he has placed his name in the hat for a 2025 gubernatorial bid set to kick off in June.
“Through all the negative headlines, rumors and criticism, I have remained clear: I’m not stepping down, I’m stepping UP,” the mayor wrote Sunday in a post on social platform X.
No matter what you read, no matter what you see — they may want to fight me, but I’m always fighting for YOU,” he added.
