New York Governor Kathy Hochul signaled on Monday that she may use her executive powers to remove New York City Mayor Eric Adams after four officials in Adams’ administration resigned last week.
On Friday, First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer and Deputy Mayors Anne Williams-Isom, Meera Joshi, and Chauncey Parker resigned after Adams’ federal bribery and fraud charges were dropped at the request of a top Justice Department official.
Adams’ charges were dropped, according to a memo from Associate Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, based partially on how the case would “interfere” with the mayor’s “ability to govern,” further citing his work in carrying out President Donald Trump’s efforts for mass deportations of illegal migrants.
The same day that Adams’ charges were dropped, he appeared on Fox & Friends alongside border czar Tom Homan to discuss New York City’s plans to work with the Trump administration on immigration enforcement.
Mayor Eric Adams / Facebook
Amid his cooperation with the Trump administration’s immigration policies and his charges being dropped, Adams’ has been accused of taking part in a quid pro quo deal, which reportedly led to Friday’s resignations in the mayor’s office.
Hochul, who has fiercely defied the Trump administration’s policies on immigration enforcement, said the resignations in Adams’ administration are “troubling and cannot be ignored.”
“I recognize the immense responsibility I hold as governor and the constitutional powers granted to this office. 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 said.
Hochul said she will hold a meeting on Tuesday with “key leaders” in Manhattan for a “conversation about the path forward” and weigh the “long-term future” of Adams’ administration.
Adams defended himself in a statement, saying,““I want to be crystal clear with New Yorkers: I never offered — nor did anyone offer on my behalf — any trade of my authority as your mayor for an end to my case. Never.”
“I am solely beholden to the 8.3 million New Yorkers that I represent and I will always put this city first,” Adams added.
Adams, who began serving as mayor in 2022, is up for reelection this year as his current term ends on January 1, 2026.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “NY Mayor Kathy Hochul” by Mayor Kathy Hochul.
