Embattled New York City Mayor Eric Adams finds himself in the middle of a legal firestorm, fighting for his political life. Questions have arisen as to how long he can remain in power.
Mr. Adams was indicted last week by the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's Office in a wide-ranging federal corruption investigation, the latest in a widening scandal that has engulfed City Hall for the past several months and has been brewing behind the scenes for years. It has reached its peak.
It's a stunning fall from grace for someone once seen as a rising star in Democratic politics, and while Adams has indicated he has no intention of going anywhere, some opponents are convinced he will feel pressure to resign. Some people do.
“Eric Adams has always been a Republican in Democratic clothing, but was anyone really surprised by the corruption allegations?” said one Democratic operative working for the New York congressman. “While his Republican friends may try to support him, it's clear he's losing the city's trust.”
“At this point, it is only a matter of time before he is forced to resign,” the strategist predicted.
Adams' defense team has already begun a defense motion seeking questioning from prosecutors, who said Wednesday that more criminal charges could be filed as the investigation continues. It could also put new people in legal jeopardy.
Several of Adams' aides resigned shortly before news of the indictment became public, and the report explained how the mayor's aides also deleted communications during the investigation with the FBI.
Prosecutor Hagan Scotten said it was “possible” that further action could be taken against the man elected in 2021 as Manhattan's 110th mayor.
Mr. Adams was charged with criminal activity for soliciting illegal campaign contributions from foreign entities, among other corruption charges. Prosecutors are focusing on his dealings with Turkish officials while he was running for office and in power, according to the indictment.
The mayor's attorney, Alex Spiro, asked prosecutors this week to dismiss some of the charges, citing leaks that tainted the investigation. He also expressed a desire for an expedited process.
“We don't want this case to drag on,” Spiro said.
Democrats who have worked to elevate Adams are now watching the scene unfold in the weeks before the presidential election. The mayor came to power with the blessing of the Biden administration and has enjoyed public support primarily from national Democrats, although the two have reportedly sparred over the past few years.
That alignment appears to be fading as members of Congress and political strategists seek clarity about the scope of Adams' role in the alleged crimes. House Democrats are divided along ideological lines, with Speaker Hakeem Jeffries of New York openly defending Adams and others in the Democratic caucus and calling for his resignation.
“Like any other New Yorker or American, Eric Adams is entitled to the presumption of innocence,” Jeffries said.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul (Democratic) has also refrained from ousting Adams, and they maintain a good relationship in public. However, reports say that Ho-chul was having a “private” phone call behind the scenes.CNNSo she asked Adams to sort out her internal affairs.
Progressives, meanwhile, are voicing their concerns. Fellow New York congressmen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (DN.Y.) and Jerry Nadler (DN.Y.) have been at the forefront of calling for Adams to leave Gracie's residence, which was raided by the FBI. .
Angelo Greco, a national progressive organizer in touch with the New York Democratic Party, suggested that Adams was keeping a low profile as events continued to unfold. It was revealed that he did not attend an awards banquet celebrating social and racial justice advocacy at Lincoln Center, a sign that he is trying to stay out of the fray. This is the latest sign.
“I was at the Triumph Awards last night and it was notable that he didn't show up,” Greco said.
The Rev. Al Sharpton, a civil rights leader and black Democratic icon, took a nod to the situation and later circulated information on social media highlighting Adams' absence.
Democrats rooting for Adams' ouster say the mayor has offended the constituencies he was courting so passionately, including some black communities, and has pandered to Republicans. To some, his legal woes are not at all surprising.
Nevertheless, other Democrats, including some who are deeply critical of Adams, are more bullish on his longevity. They say they see no change in the city's chief executive and that he will be able to weather the storm even if new developments occur.
Another New York-based Democratic commentator said, “Adams has an amazing ability to absorb these kinds of headlines because he has total disregard for his own overall popularity.”
“I don't think he has a chance of being re-elected, but not caring about that would take away the ability of the media to shame him for his actions,” the source said.
Opinion polls have revealed that Mr. Adams is in a political predicament. One AprilinvestigationAccording to a Manhattan Institute poll, only 16% of New York voters surveyed said they supported the mayor's re-election campaign in June.
Despite the significant lack of support, the path forward for Democrats is also less clear if Adams resigns before next summer's mayoral primary, with other Manhattan officials also There is a possibility that it will spread.
wall street journalreportedAdams' incoming city leader, Jumaane Williams, also reportedly received funding from individuals included in the Adams investigation. The magazine reported that Williams, who is currently a New York City public defender, received $5,000 from a person who also coordinated the donation to Adams.
The next question adds further complexity to this story.It is speculated that it will go all the way to the Supreme Court..
Many big questions remain unanswered, and Democrats are bracing for further potential fallout. Some of Mr. Adams' opponents in particular have begun to compare him to former President Trump, who has been involved in decades of corruption in the city and surrounding areas.
The comparison, which paints Mr. Adams in a particularly negative light, comes as Democrats seek to distance themselves from Mr. Trump in the most powerful way with a month until Election Day.
“Mr. Adams and Mr. Trump have more in common than people realize,” said an operative working for the New York congressman. “New York needs honest leadership, not Trump-style corruption and chaos.”
