Gov Hochul Weighs Removing NYC Mayor Eric Adams

THE NEWS

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has raised the possibility of removing New York City Mayor Eric Adams from office after four of his deputy mayors abruptly resigned.

The departures come amidst turmoil over the Justice Department’s decision to drop Adams’ corruption case, contingent on his cooperation with President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.

Gov. Hochul, invoking rarely used constitutional powers, plans to meet with key leaders to discuss “serious questions about the long-term future” of Adams’ administration.

Meanwhile, calls for the mayor’s resignation have intensified from both city officials and federal representatives, adding to the mounting political and legal pressures surrounding the embattled mayor.

TIMELINE

• September (Previous Year): Mayor Eric Adams pleads not guilty to charges of accepting illegal campaign contributions and lavish travel perks while Brooklyn borough president.

• Late Last Week: Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove directs federal prosecutors in Manhattan to drop the corruption case, citing Adams’ “unduly restricted” capacity to address illegal immigration and violent crime. Several prosecutors, including the interim U.S. attorney for Manhattan, quit in protest.

• Friday: Bove and other Justice Department officials file motions asking a federal judge to dismiss Adams’ corruption charges with the option of refiling after the November election.

• Monday:
  

• Gov. Kathy Hochul signals she’s considering removing Adams from office, a power never before used against a sitting New York City mayor.

• Four top officials in Adams’ administration — First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer, Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom, and Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Chauncey Parker — announce their resignations.

• Adams confirms their departure, expressing disappointment but reiterating his commitment to lead.

• Tuesday (Scheduled): Hochul plans to meet with key leaders in Manhattan to discuss the next steps concerning Adams’ fate.

REACTIONS

Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY): Notes the gravity of potentially ousting an elected mayor, emphasizing that “the alleged conduct at City Hall ... cannot be ignored.”

Mayor Eric Adams (D-NYC): Admits disappointment over his deputies’ exit but vows that “New York City will keep moving forward.” Reaffirms no intention of resigning, despite mounting political pressure.

Rev. Al Sharpton: Decries the Justice Department’s arrangement as “political blackmail,” suggesting Trump is holding Adams “hostage” to push immigration policy.

City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (no relation to the mayor): Joins a growing list of officials calling for the mayor’s resignation, asserting he has lost the trust of his own administration and the public.

Other Democratic Critics: Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Nydia Velázquez, and Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado echo calls for Adams to step down, citing the uncertain nature of his legal case and alleged compromises to city governance.

Deputy Mayors (Torres-Springer, Joshi, Williams-Isom, Parker): In a joint memo, cite “the extraordinary events of the last few weeks” and a commitment to upholding their oaths as driving their decision to leave.

WHAT'S NEXT

Gov. Hochul’s Tuesday meeting could set in motion an unprecedented court-like procedure for removing a New York City mayor. Should she proceed, Adams must be formally charged and granted a defense hearing.

If Hochul moves toward removal, legal and political battles will likely ensue, with implications for city governance and mayoral succession.