New York Democrat leader Eric Adams encounters calls for his departure, as fellow Democrats contemplate their subsequent strategies
Indicted on federal corruption charges, previously undisclosed on Thursday, the fate of mayor Adams will be determined in the approaching days and weeks. The indignant mayor continues to assert his innocence and maintains his focus on fulfilling his role as mayor. However, whether he maintains this position is uncertain. Interviews with numerous Democratic operatives, donors, lobbyists, and city officials painted a picture of a mayor teetering on the brink, resulting in a city government significantly impacted by several weeks of instability.
Rumors surrounding the mayor's assorted legal predicaments, including four ongoing federal investigations, have dominated New York political discourse over the past few weeks. Leading operatives have openly speculated about when, not if, the charges would be brought and how the mayor would respond.
"I've always known that if I stood my ground for New Yorkers, I would become a target – and a target I am," the mayor said Wednesday night after The New York Times initially reported on the indictment.
In response, Damian Williams, the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, stated at a news conference Thursday morning that the indictment brought significant and incontestable charges against the mayor.
"These are genuine red lines, and we allege that the mayor crossed them, repeatedly, for many years," Williams said.
In his initial public remarks following the indictment, the mayor addressed his detractors who suggested that his continued tenure in office was no longer sustainable for the city's day-to-day operations.
"My legal team will handle the case, allowing me to focus on the city," Adams said.
However, the business of governing the city, which has already lost both its police chief and schools chancellor this month, appears to have ground to a halt. One source confided in CNN that Adams' top advisor, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, is believed to be outside the country, while his inner circle has been significantly reduced.
Adams' former chief of staff, Frank Carone, a prominent Brooklyn attorney, met with the mayor Wednesday night at Gracie Mansion. Before leaving, Carone stated that the mayor was not "distracted" and, when asked if Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, the next in line to assume the mayor's office, was capable of achieving the task, he made his stance clear.
"We have one mayor – who was elected," Carone said. "It's Eric Adams."
Political opponents and several erstwhile allies have called on Adams to resign since the rumors about his indictment began circulating. The 57-page indictment includes charges related to bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy, and soliciting campaign contributions from foreign nationals. The alleged crimes stretch back a decade, to Adams' time as Brooklyn borough president.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul, by law, has the power to remove him from office, although multiple sources – all of whom requested anonymity due to the sensitive and evolving nature of the topic – told CNN late Wednesday that she was not considering this option.
Hochul, who initially commented: "It would be premature to comment further until the matter is confirmed by law enforcement," later labeled the allegations a "serious matter" and vowed to examine them carefully as she deliberated on a potential decision.
What about Jeffries?
Major decisions lie ahead for US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a Brooklyn Democrat much like Adams, who is working to reclaim a majority for his party in the November elections. To accomplish this, Democratic candidates in several crucial districts outside the city must retake seats claimed by Republicans during the 2022 midterms.
A lawyer by training and keenly aware of the implications of advocating for a city mayor's resignation before a potential conviction, Jeffries is unlikely to recommend Adams' immediate resignation. However, political pressure may become intolerable in the coming weeks as the situation unfolds.
Wednesday, in Washington, before the indictment was made public, Jeffries told reporters that he and the New York Democratic House delegation were concerned with the well-being of the city and state.
"We need Eric Adams to be successful as mayor because he is the mayor at the present moment," Jeffries said.
He maintained a similar stance Thursday, affirming that Adams is "entitled to the presumption of innocence." He added that "a jury of the mayor's peers will now evaluate the charges in the indictment and ultimately reach a decision."
"In the meantime," he concluded, "I pray for the welfare of our great city."
A Democratic strategist familiar with Jeffries' leadership style, but not authorized to speak publicly, predicted that the minority leader would adopt a pragmatic approach.
"Hakeem will not take action unless he is hearing, unmistakably, from the New York delegation that Eric Adams is impeding their chances of victory (in November)," the source said.
The initial hints of a potential backlash from suburban Democratic candidates emerged from Laura Gillen, who is campaigning to unseat freshman GOP Rep. Anthony D’Esposito on Long Island's South Shore.
"It does not matter if you're a Republican who is giving your mistress a taxpayer-funded salary or a Democrat selling influence; if you abuse your power, you have to leave," Gillen said, referencing reports about her opponent's own scandal, parts of which he has denied. "Let's clean up New York City and Washington, D.C., and elect ethical leaders who prioritize their constituents, not themselves."
On the side of the US Senate, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, hailing from Brooklyn like Jeffries, mirrored his tone, labeling the accusations as "severe", albeit avoiding a call for Adams' resignation.
Schumer stated, "Nobody is exempt from the law, even the Mayor of New York City." He further added, "The allegations are severe, and the legal proceedings ought to commence swiftly and justly."
Demands for Adams' Resignation Amplify
Urges for the mayor's resignation heightened post the indictment's unveiling.
Several potential 2025 Democratic primary competitors, including former City Comptroller Scott Stringer, current City Comptroller Brad Lander, and New York state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, expressed their belief that the mayor would struggle to manage the city while handling a federal indictment.
Myrie conceded, "This is a disheartening day for the city, particularly devastating for many Black New Yorkers who had faith in this Mayor." He further emphasized, "We require a leader who can focus undistracted on the gigantic challenges we are facing."
Stringer advocated, "His legal struggle isn't ours," and asserted that "it's almost impossible that the government machinery will proceed at full speed under these circumstances."
Lander suggested, "The optimal path forward is for him to step down, enabling New York City to gain the full attention its leadership necessitates."
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez suggested the same a day prior. Despite the contentiousness with Adams on policy and political style, the Queens congresswoman asserted her concerns centered solely around administrative matters.
"This is exclusively about Mayor Adams' capacity to manage New York City," Ocasio-Cortez told the press on Capitol Hill before the indictment news broke.
Adams addressed these concerns at his press conference, stating his responsibilities wouldn't alter before countering the notion that the city was hindered by his legal tribulations.
"It's an affront to the hard-working people of the city that anyone would suggest they won't accomplish their duties while this case advances in the background," Adams retorted. "They are dedicated public servants, and I, as one of them, have served for many years, and they'll continue to execute their duties, propelling the city forward each day."
More politically unsettling for Adams, though, was a social media post the previous evening from City Councilman Bob Holden, a conservative Democrat from Queens. Holden's council district harbors some of Adams' White working-class electoral base.
"A sad day for NYC when a sitting mayor is indicted on federal charges. While @NYCMayor is presumed innocent until proven guilty, there's no means he can effectively govern with this cloud overshadowing him," Holden wrote. "With the challenges we face, he must step down for the welfare of New Yorkers."
Councilmember Chris Banks, whose Brooklyn district encompasses Brownsville and East New York, also suggested Adams' resignation, labeling the scandal "an unfolding tragedy."
"I hold no confidence in the mayor's capacity to effectively administer city government while contending with the charges," Banks said in a statement.
State Sens. Julia Salazar, Gustavo Rivera, and Jabari Brisport have also called for Adams' departure, alongside State Assembly members Phara Souffrant Forrest and Emily Gallagher of Brooklyn. None are considered allies of the mayor. Adams' detractors on the city council are also growing in number and scope. Councilmember Tiffany Caban of Queens was the first to call for his resignation. Other councilmembers, including Alexa Aviles, Sandy Nurse, and Chi Osse, concurred with her demand.
For now, Adams' backing on the council is limited to Republican members.
"Beware what you wish for and pay close attention to who is celebrating the loudest," Councilwoman Vickie Paladino, representing parts of Queens, said in a post on X. "The progressives who are salivating right now pose an existential threat to New Yorkers and cannot be allowed to seize power."
The Cuomo Question
Hochul, who narrowly won a full term in 2022 and is deemed vulnerable to a primary challenge in 2026, might find herself under pressure due to concerns that Adams could harm the party beyond New York City.
The shadows of her predecessor, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, also loom over the rapidly transforming new political landscape.
Even before the indictment, Cuomo had been preparing for a potential mayoral bid. Two sources familiar with his plans told CNN that Cuomo, who resigned as governor in 2021 due to a sexual harassment scandal, has been conversing with prospective campaign managers.
Cuomo has been sharing with those around him, multiple sources said, that he would run if Adams vacated the office and a special election was scheduled. If Adams resigns before the final week of March, the acting mayor is required to schedule one. The winner would serve out Adams' term.
Democratic strategists in New York are divided over Cuomo's intentions, though most concede it is, for now, merely speculation – and the source of extensive, sometimes fanciful hypothesizing.
One Democratic strategist who has worked with Cuomo, but spoke anonymously out of fear of retribution, expressed doubt over the former governor's private conviction that he is poised to enter the mayoral fray. A return to the governor's mansion, multiple sources said, remains Cuomo's ultimate aim – and not a goal he would abandon for a less influential position.
"Cuomo has spent countless years undermining the mayor's authority and limiting their influence structurally," mentioned one tactician. "He's not likely to settle for a weaker position. His sights are set on the governor's seat, and he'll keep that ambition until his last breath."
Cuomo's representative, Rich Azzopardi, disputed the notion that Cuomo has been interviewing potential campaign team members. He shared with CNN that Cuomo has consistently stated he has no intentions of planning and this stance remains unaltered.
CNN's Gloria Pazmino provided insights for this piece.
The escalating calls for Adams' resignation have placed New York Governor Kathy Hochul in a delicate position, with multiple sources suggesting she is not considering his removal from office despite the serious nature of the allegations.
Politically, Hakeem Jeffries, the US House Minority Leader and a Brooklyn Democrat, is faced with a challenging decision. While he is unlikely to recommend Adams' immediate resignation due to his legal rights, the increasing political pressure may become unbearable in the coming weeks.
