NEW YORK — Governor Kathy Hochul of New York engaged in a series of discussions with prominent political figures on Tuesday, considering the unprecedented move of removing Mayor Eric Adams from his position amid increasing turmoil within City Hall.
These meetings, which involved influential Black leaders and various key officials, have emerged as Adams faces scrutiny over his capacity to govern independently following a decision by the Justice Department to dismiss his corruption case, allowing him to dedicate more effort to assisting former President Donald Trump with immigration policies.
Even though Hochul, also a Democrat, has the authority to remove Adams, she has hesitated, expressing concerns that such an action would be undemocratic and could plunge the city into an unfamiliar legal situation.
The governor’s stance appeared to shift on Monday after the sudden resignation of four of Adams’ deputy officials, prompting Hochul to raise “serious questions about the long-term future of this Mayoral administration.”
According to sources familiar with Hochul’s appointments, she planned discussions with key figures, including U.S. Representative Hakeem Jeffries, City Comptroller Brad Lander, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Rev. Al Sharpton, and U.S. Representative Gregory Meeks, about the future of the mayor’s leadership. It should be noted that the mayor and the council speaker are not related.
After his meeting with Hochul, Sharpton mentioned that the governor intended to “see what the judge decides tomorrow and continue deliberating with other leaders.” He did not explicitly mention whether he encouraged the mayor’s removal but expressed his support for Hochul’s decision to wait for the outcome of an upcoming court hearing regarding Adams’ case.
If Hochul opts to take action, she would need to navigate a complex legal procedure resembling a court process, which involves formally charging Adams and allowing him to defend his position. Alternatively, under New York City regulations, a mayor can also be removed by a “committee on inability” composed of five local officials. This week, Hochul has reached out to three of those committee members — Lander, Adrienne Adams, and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards — all Democrats. The committee’s overall structure has never before been put to use, leaving debates about its feasibility unsettled.
Lander, who is running against Adams in the upcoming Democratic primary, stated he would convene the committee if the mayor did not present a contingency plan for running the city by Friday. However, the council speaker expressed reservations about this drastic measure, contending it should be reserved for situations where officials are incapacitated. Richards urged the mayor to reflect deeply on his capability to serve effectively.
During a press conference focused on a police detective who was shot earlier, Adams did not address the increasing calls for his resignation. When questioned about his recent reluctance to engage with the media, he curtly responded, “’Cause y’all liars.”
The political climate turned critical for Adams after the Justice Department directed prosecutors to drop bribery and related charges against him on January 10, to which Adams has pleaded not guilty.
The fallout from this decision led several career prosecutors and supervisors working on public-corruption cases to resign, citing the dismissal as politically motivated. One notable resignation came from the interim U.S. attorney in Manhattan, who indicated that Adams’ lawyers proposed his cooperation on immigration issues in exchange for halting the case against him. Adams’ legal team has denied any such arrangement, arguing that they informed prosecutors that the ongoing case hindered the mayor’s immigration enforcement efforts.
Ultimately, two senior Justice Department attorneys submitted paperwork last Friday requesting that a judge formally dismiss the case, catalyzing the court hearing scheduled for Wednesday.
Suspicion around Adams began to mount in November 2023, when federal investigators seized his phones as part of a probe into his 2021 campaign financing. He has continually denied any misconduct.
Over the past year, numerous key aides and supporters of the mayor have faced investigation, with some resigning in the process. Adams himself later faced indictment on charges of bribery, accused of providing favors to the Turkish government following questionable campaign contributions and lavish overseas trips. He claims to be the target of political retribution due to his criticisms of then-President Joe Biden’s immigration policies.
Amid a shifting political landscape, Adams has sought to forge a closer relationship with former President Trump, particularly after Trump’s electoral victory. Trump has even suggested the possibility of a pardon for Adams, asserting that he has been “treated pretty unfairly.” Prior to taking office, Adams traveled to Florida to meet with Trump and curtailed his planned attendance at a Martin Luther King Jr. Day event in New York after receiving a last-minute invitation to Trump’s inauguration. In the meantime, the mayor has shown willingness to reconsider city policies that restrict collaboration with federal immigration authorities.
Adams insists that his actions are driven by what he perceives as the city’s best interests, rather than personal gain, as he cultivates this relationship with the former president.
