New York Governor Kathy Hochul stated on Monday that she is considering removing New York City Mayor Eric Adams from office following the resignation of four of his top deputies. The resignations come amid the ongoing fallout from the Justice Department’s decision to drop his corruption case in order to secure his cooperation in President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement efforts. Hochul, a Democrat, announced plans to meet with key leaders on Tuesday in Manhattan to discuss the situation. She expressed concerns that the departures of First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer and other senior officials raise “serious questions about the long-term future” of Adams’ administration. Adams, also a Democrat, has faced increasing scrutiny after the Justice Department’s actions last week, which sparked doubts about his political independence and ability to lead the city. Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove stated that the corruption case had “unnecessarily limited Mayor Adams’ ability to focus fully on addressing illegal immigration and violent crime.”
Governor Kathy Hochul acknowledged the significant responsibility she holds and the constitutional powers granted to her office. In a statement, she emphasized that in the 235-year history of New York State, these powers have never been used to remove an elected mayor, noting that overturning the will of the voters is a serious action that should not be taken lightly. However, she also expressed concern over the troubling reports regarding conduct at City Hall in the past two weeks, which cannot be overlooked. New York City’s charter outlines a court-like process for removing a mayor, requiring the governor to first serve the mayor with a copy of the charges she believes justify his removal. The mayor would then be given an opportunity to defend himself. However, as Hochul pointed out, there is little precedent for this process, as the removal powers have never been used against a sitting mayor in New York’s history.
On Monday, Mayor Eric Adams confirmed the resignations of several top officials: First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer, Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom, and Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Chauncey Parker. Adams expressed disappointment over their departures but stated that he understood their decisions given the current challenges and wished them success in the future. He added, “But let me be crystal clear: New York City will keep moving forward, just as it does every day.” Adams is facing multiple challengers in the upcoming Democratic primary in June. In a memo to agency heads and staff, Torres-Springer, Joshi, and Williams-Isom explained they were leaving due to “the extraordinary events of the last few weeks.” While they didn’t specify their departure dates, Adams mentioned that they, along with Parker, would stay “for the time being to ensure a seamless transition.”
Bove’s decision to instruct prosecutors to drop the corruption case against Adams led to uproar both within the Justice Department and New York’s political scene. This prompted seven federal prosecutors, including the interim U.S. attorney for Manhattan, to resign in protest, while some fellow Democrats have called for Adams to step down. On Friday, following a week of accusations and resignations, Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove and two Justice Department officials from Washington intervened, filing paperwork requesting Manhattan federal Judge Dale E. Ho to dismiss the case against Mayor Eric Adams. Judge Ho has yet to take any action on the request.
Adams, a former police captain, pleaded not guilty last September to charges that he accepted over $100,000 in illegal campaign contributions and extravagant travel perks from foreign nationals seeking to influence him during his time as Brooklyn borough president while campaigning for mayor. In its filing on Friday, the Justice Department stated that it was asking for the charges against Adams to be dismissed, with the possibility of refiling them later. Critics view this as a tactic to secure his cooperation with the Republican president’s agenda. In his memo directing prosecutors to drop the case, Bove noted that the new permanent U.S. attorney would review the situation after the November election.
Rev. Al Sharpton, an ally of Mayor Eric Adams, expressed on Tuesday that it seems as though President Trump is effectively holding the mayor hostage. Sharpton, who has supported Adams, said the situation amounts to political blackmail, putting the mayor in an unfair position. City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, who is not related to the mayor, became the latest Democrat to call for his resignation. She stated that the recent resignations of top officials clearly show the mayor has lost the trust and confidence of his staff, colleagues, and the people of New York.
Other prominent figures, including Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Nydia Velázquez, and Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, have also called for Adams to step down. The controversy surrounding Adams’ legal issues unfolded as the mayor met with Trump’s border czar in New York on Thursday and announced a greater alignment with the Trump administration’s immigration policies, including the reestablishment of an office for immigration authorities at the city’s Rikers Island jail.
In a memo explaining their resignations, Torres-Springer, Joshi, and Williams-Isom said, “Due to the extraordinary events of the last few weeks and to stay faithful to the oaths we swore to New Yorkers and our families, we have made the difficult decision to step down from our roles.”