New York governor under pressure to fire Eric Adams after ‘quid pro quo’ with Trump over criminal charges
Pressure is growing on New York’s Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul to remove New York City Mayor Eric Adams from office after an alleged “quid pro quo” with Donald Trump’s administration to drop charges against him in exchange for political allegiance.
The Department of Justice formally asked a court Friday to dismiss corruption charges against the mayor amid accusations that Adams agreed to support the Trump administration’s aggressive anti-immigration agenda, which he denies.
Federal prosecutors working on the case against Adams fiercely opposed the request.
Hochul has not ruled out taking action following the Justice Department’s intervention.
In an interview with MSNBC Thursday, Hochul said the allegations were “extremely concerning and serious” but added she would not make any “knee-jerk, politically motivated reaction.”
“This just happened. I need some time to process this and figure out the right approach,” said Hochul, adding that she is “consulting with other leaders in government at this time.”
While Hochul mulls her authority to remove Adams under provisions in the state constitution, New York Democrats aren’t demanding his immediate resignation.
Democratic State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said it was “probably time that he move aside,” the New York Post reported.
“We really are spending more time on the mayor in his plight. It’s distracting and we have a job to do. We’re in the middle of a budget,” Stewart-Cousins told the newspaper at the Democrats’ caucus in Albany.
“I would call for the mayor to resign, but that would mean him putting the interests of the city first,” New York City Public Advocate Jumaane William said in a statement this week. “At this point it is beyond clear that he can’t or doesn’t care enough to, and that should anger every New Yorker.”
Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado also called on Adams to resign.
“New York City deserves a Mayor accountable to the people, not beholden to the President. Mayor Adams should step down,” Delgado said in a post on X Thursday.
New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said that Adams was putting the city and its people “at risk.”
“As long as Trump wields this leverage over Adams, the city is endangered. We cannot be governed under coercion,” she said Thursday. “If Adams won’t resign, he must be removed.”
