New York City Mayor Eric Adams has recently made history; he is the first NYC mayor to be indicted while in office. Last September, Adams was charged with five counts of corruption, bribery and fraud. He has allegedly pressured officials to approve paperwork for a skyscraper that Turkish government officials inhabit in exchange for luxurious goods, services and donations to his campaign. Adams denies these claims. To his rescue, Attorney General Emil Bove (appointed by Trump) has ordered prosecutors to drop Adams’ charges in exchange for his participation in implementing President Trump’s latest policies.
Adams is no stranger to criticism. Since being elected, he has faced much backlash for his obnoxious ways. Typically, the backlash he faces is more trivial, like the commentary on his nightlife behavior, but the stakes have never been this high. On Sep. 26, 2024, the indictment against Adams was unsealed; it was revealed he had been hit with five criminal charges, including two counts of solicitation of campaign funds from a foreign country, one count of conspiracy against the United States, one count of wire fraud and one count of soliciting and accepting a bribe. The investigation on the New York mayor began a year prior when his electronics were seized to establish a connection between him, Turkey officials and the Brooklyn contractors for said skyscraper.
Since then, there has been a wave of resignations from his administration that has raised many eyebrows. Despite the compelling evidence and the optics, Adams doubled down and pleaded not guilty on Sep. 27, 2024. He also refuses to step down from his position. “His refusal to step down raises crucial questions about stability and trust in his leadership,” Darius Phelps of the University’s English language and literature department said. “This sets a dangerous precedent.”
Oddly enough, in the heat of controversy, Adams made time to attend a UFC event with President Trump and other Republican leaders, despite it not being within Adams’ schedule or although Adams was listed as a Democrat. Since then, Adams has attended many of President Trump’s events, including his inauguration. Trump has spoken out in defense of Adams; he believes the accusations are all politically motivated because Adams was not fond of former President Biden. Mayor Adams denies a friendship with Trump. He states that they have only “exchanged pleasantries.”
Following the Department of Justice (DOJ)’s executive order instructing for the charges against Mayor Adams to be dropped, Danielle Sassoon, former head of the Southern District of New York, has joined the long list of resignations after the Adams scandal. Sassoon’s resignation is not a form of concession but more of power; it is in protest. “Because the law does not support a dismissal, and because I am confident that Adams has committed the crimes with which he is charged, I cannot agree to seek a dismissal driven by improper considerations,” Sassoon states. She believes that the order from the DOJ is a gross use of power and is an apparent act of quid pro quo. Mayor Adams and President Trump deny these claims. The DOJ believes that the case is interfering with his ability to serve as acting mayor of the city.
The Department of Justice has filed against New York for the charges to be formally dropped. Even if Adams avoids jail time, he will still be in an uphill battle as he vies for reelection come Nov. 2025. Many, like Eric English, professor of the University’s Communications and Media Studies department, believe he is “compromised… and legal action needs to be taken to restore the city to a competent and uncorrupt leadership.” Most New Yorkers and city officials are calling for him to resign, as his poll numbers have hit an all-time low at an approval rate of 20 percent, which is a new low in almost 30 years for any NYC Mayor. If anything, he’s consistent.
