New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) won’t remove New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) from officefollowing allegations that the mayor’s legal team sought to help President Donald Trump’s administration implement its immigration policies in exchange for having his federal corruption charges dropped, The New York Times and The Associated Press reported Thursday.
In an announcement she’ll reportedly make later Thursday, Hochul plans to say she won’t overrule the will of the voters but will impose strict oversight of Adams’ administration. Those guardrails will reportedly include the establishment of a new state deputy inspector general dedicated to the city, among other new roles.
Earlier this week, Hochul said she was weighing removing Adams from office and would convene a meeting in Manhattan with other government leaders “for a conversation about the path forward.”
“I recognize the immense responsibility I hold as governor and the constitutional powers granted to this office,” Hochul said Monday. “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. That said, the alleged conduct at City Hall that has been reported over the past two weeks is troubling and cannot be ignored.”
Adams was hit with federal charges last year for bribery, fraud and soliciting foreign campaign donations in exchange for political favors. Last week, Trump’s Justice Department suddenly dropped the charges against Adams, arguing that the case interfered with the mayor’s ability to help Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration in the city.
Following the announcement, Danielle Sassoon ― Manhattan’s top federal prosecutor ― resigned.
In a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi last week, Sassoon said she had met with Adams’ legal team last month. During the meeting, Sassoon alleged that his team “repeatedly urged what amounted to a quid pro quo, indicating that Adams would be in a position to assist with Department’s enforcement priorities only if the indictment were dismissed.”
Sassoon added that she was “confident” Adams was guilty of the charges against him. Two senior Justice Department officials also resigned in defiance of the dropped charges.
The DOJ’s stunning move led to demands that Adams step down. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said on social media that the mayor was “putting the City of New York and its people at risk in exchange for escaping charges.”
“As long as Trump wields this leverage over Adams, the city is endangered,” Ocasio-Cortez added. “We cannot be governed under coercion.”
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In an interview with MSNBC last week, Hochul called the allegations against Adams “extremely concerning and serious.”
“This just happened,” Hochul told host Rachel Maddow. “I need some time to process this and figure out the right approach.”