Eric Adams's future in question as legal woes threaten to mount
Embattled New York City Mayor Eric Adams is fighting for his political life as he finds himself in the middle of a legal firestorm, raising questions about how much longer he can hold on to power.
Adams was indicted last week by the Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s office in a wide-ranging federal corruption probe, the culmination of a growing scandal that had engulfed City Hall over the last couple months and had been brewing under the surface for years.
It was a stunning fall from grace for a man once seen as a rising star in Democratic politics, and while Adams has signaled he isn’t going anywhere, some of his opponents are confident he will feel pressure to step down.
“Eric Adams has always been a Republican in Democratic clothing, so is anyone really surprised by the corruption allegations?” said one Democratic operative who works for a New York member of Congress. “While his Republican friends might try to prop him up, it’s clear he’s losing the trust of the city.”
“At this point,” the strategist predicted, “it’s only a matter of time before he’s forced to resign.”
Adams’s legal team has already started mounting a defense that seeks to question the prosecution, who on Wednesday said that he may encounter even more criminal charges as the investigation continues. There’s also a possibility that it could drag new people into legal jeopardy.
Several of Adams’s close confidants resigned just before news became public about the indictment, which described how an aide to the mayor also deleted communications during the probe with the FBI.
Prosecutor Hagan Scotten said that it’s “possible” that the person who in 2021 was elected to be Manhattan’s 110th mayor could see more action against him.
Adams was indicted on alleged criminal conduct that involved soliciting illegal campaign contributions from a foreign entity, among other corruption charges. Prosecutors have homed in on his involvement with Turkish officials, according to the indictment, whom he dealt with while running for office and in power.
The mayor’s defense lawyer, Alex Spiro, sought to have prosecutors dismiss part of the charges this week, claiming that there were leaks involved that sully the investigation. He also expressed a desire for a speedy process.
“We do not want this case dragging out,” Spiro said.
Democrats who had previously worked to elevate Adams are now watching the spectacle play out just weeks before the presidential election. The mayor rose to power with the Biden administration’s blessing, and while the two have reportedly sparred over the past several years, he has largely enjoyed the public support of national Democrats.
That alliance appears to be fading as members on Capitol Hill and political strategists seek clarity over the extent of Adams’ role in the criminal allegations. House Democrats are divided along ideological lines, with Speaker Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) putting out an apparent defense of Adams and others in the Democratic caucus calling for him to step down.
“Like every other New Yorker and American, Eric Adams is entitled to the presumption of innocence,” Jeffries said.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) has also refrained from pushing Adams out and has maintained a good relationship in public. But behind the scenes, Hochul reportedly had a “private” call, according to CNN, where she asked Adams to get his internal affairs in order.
Progressives, meanwhile, are loudly voicing their concerns. Fellow New York Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) have been at the forefront of calling for Adams to exit Gracie Mansion, the government residence that was raided by the FBI.
Angelo Greco, a national progressive organizer in touch with New York Democrats, suggested that Adams has been keeping a low profile as developments continue to unfold. He was visibly missing at an awards banquet celebrating social and racial justice advocacy in Lincoln Center, the latest sign that he’s trying to stay out of the fray.
“I was at the Triumph awards last night and it was notable he didn’t show,” Greco said.
In a nod to the situation, Rev. Al Sharpton, a civil rights leader and icon among Black Democrats, later passed around information on social media spotlighting Adams’ absence.
Democrats who are cheering Adams’s downfall say the mayor has caused resentment among constituencies he heavily courted, including some Black communities, and has also pandered to the GOP. His legal woes, some say, are not entirely surprising.
Other Democrats — including some who are deeply critical of Adams — are nonetheless more bullish about his longevity. They say that nothing seems to phase the city’s top executive and that he’s capable of weathering the storm even as new developments emerge.
“Adams has the amazing power to absorb these kinds of headlines because he just ignores his overall popularity,” said another New York-based Democratic commentator.
“I don't think he's reelectable, but if you don't care about that, it kind of saps the media of its ability to make you feel shame for what you do,” the source said.
Polling shows Adams under water politically. In an April survey taken by the Manhattan Institute, just 16 percent of New York voters polled said that they’d back the mayor’s reeelection campaign in June.
Despite that significant lack of support, Democrats’ path forward beyond Adams, if he resigns before next summer’s mayoral primary, is also not so clean cut and could trickle down to other Manhattan officials.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the city leader who is next to succeed Adams, Jumaane Williams, also got some funding from an individual who is included in the Adams investigation. Williams, who currently serves as New York City Public Advocate, was given $5,000, according to the Journal’s report, from a person who also coordinated donations for Adams.
The next-in-line question is adding complications to the saga, which is even being speculated about going as far as the Supreme Court.
With a lot of big questions unanswered, Democrats are bracing for more potential fallout. Some particularly opposed to Adams are starting to compare him to former President Trump, whose own improprieties have played out for decades in the city and its surrounding boroughs.
The comparison, which paints Adams in an especially negative light, comes as Democrats seek to distance themselves from Trump in the strongest sense just one month until Election Day.
“Adams and Trump have more in common than people think,” the operative who works for a New York congressman said. “New York deserves leadership with integrity, not more Trump-style corruption and chaos.”
Date: |
-
Politics - Politico
AOC says Eric Adams should resign
September 26 -
Politics - Politico
Senior House Dem joins calls for Eric Adams to resign
6 days ago -
Science - The New York Times
Why Mount Everest Is Growing Taller Every Year
Researchers say that two rivers merged some 89,000 years ago and gave the mightiest peak in the Himalayas a huge growth spurt.13 hours ago -
Politics - The Hill
Mayor Adams’s Turkish delights
Adams loved to live high on the hog, particularly at the expense of others.22 hours ago - Turkey -
Business - Financial Times
US dockworkers suspend strike that threatened to cripple ports
Workers will return under deal to extend contract until January 15 and avert billions in economic damage10 hours ago -
World - Financial Times
Can transition finance get us to a greener future?
Helping investors navigate the complexities behind decarbonising hard-to-abate industries will be essential, given the need to attract more capital21 hours ago -
World - Yahoo News
Groupe PSA future models analysis – Citroen
2 hours ago -
Sports - CBS Sports
Cowboys rookie Tyler Guyton looks to fix penalty woes vs. Steelers, not using inexperience at LT as excuse
Guyton has the third-most accepted offensive penalties in the NFL through his first four games13 hours ago - NFL
More from The Hill
-
Politics - The Hill
Passport processing wait times drop again
U.S. passport processing time has been reduced by two weeks at most, the State Department announced Thursday. The Bureau of Consular Affairs said wait times for both online and paper applications ...45 minutes ago -
Politics - The Hill
US adds 254K jobs in September, blowing past expectations
The U.S. added 254,000 jobs in September, and the unemployment rate ticked lower to 4.1 percent, according to new Labor Department data released Friday. The September jobs report blew past ...53 minutes ago -
Politics - The Hill
Meet Spot, the LAPD's new crimefighting robot dog
The futuristic four-legged machine, which boasts the size and agility of a 70-pound golden retriever, has been met with both fascination and concern.56 minutes ago -
Politics - The Hill
The Ships for America Act would be good for the Navy as well
It is hardly a secret that the U.S. Navy’s shipbuilding program is in the doldrums.56 minutes ago -
Politics - The Hill
House Republican apologizes for wearing blackface at 2006 Halloween party
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) apologized late Thursday night for wearing blackface as part of a Halloween costume portraying pop star Michael Jackson in 2006 during a college party. "Obviously, I can’t ...1 hour ago