NYC Mayor Eric Adams Indictment: Jumaane Williams, Kathy Hochul and Others React to Unsealed Charges

NEW YORK– New York City Mayor Eric Adams was indicted Thursday on federal charges alleging he accepted bribes and illegal campaign contributions from foreign sources.

The Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s Office alleges in the indictment that Adams “amplified his earnings” from illegal contributions by gaming the city’s matching fund program, which offers generous matching for small donations in dollars.

Adams is expected to be arraigned on the indictment before a federal magistrate judge at noon Friday, according to the court.

Once the indictment was unsealed, reactions began to pour in from local and national leaders.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul calls on Mayor Adams to ‘find the way forward’

Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has the authority to remove Mayor Adams from office, said in a statement that she “carefully reviewed” the indictment on Thursday, during what she called it “an extraordinarily difficult day for New York City.”

While she didn’t call on Adams to resign, she said, “Now it’s up to Mayor Adams to show the city he’s capable of leading.”

She added that while considering her options and obligations as governor, she expects the mayor to take the next few days to review the situation and “find an appropriate path forward to ensure that the residents of the city of New York are well served by their leaders. “.

“We must give New Yorkers confidence that there is stable and accountable leadership at all levels of government,” she said.

Adams said his lawyers would handle the case so he could take care of the city. “My daily life won’t change,” Adams said.

If Adams were to resign, he would be immediately replaced by Jumaane Williams, the city’s public defender.

Williams, a Democrat, would then plan a special election.

Williams made her first on-camera appearance since the indictment on NY1’s “Inside City Hall” Thursday night.

As someone who has worked in criminal law reform, Williams insisted that “the presumption of innocence is really equivalent” but said he was preparing for any “contingency.”

In a statement, Williams did not explicitly call for Adams’ resignation, but said, “It is the obligation of federal officials to prove their case; it is the obligation of the mayor to prove to New- Yorkers that there is a real plan and a path to govern the city. effectively and regain trust, and his time to show this plan is quickly running out.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer comments on Adams indictment

“No one is above the law, including the mayor of New York,” the New York Democrat said in a statement. “The charges are serious and the legal process must now proceed quickly and fairly.”

Nadler joins Ocasio-Cortez and Malliotakis in calling for resignation

Rep. Jerry Nadler joins Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat, and Nicole Malliotakis, a Republican, in calling for the mayor’s resignation.

Nadler said the mayor had “lost the ability to effectively run the city.”

He is the senior member of New York’s House delegation, the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee and the highest-ranking member of Congress to call for Adams’ resignation to date.

New York City Council Speaker: “We will continue to monitor the situation”

At a news conference, New York City Council Speaker and fellow Democrat unrelated to the mayor, Adrienne Adams, said she had not begun to consider possible removal of the mayor from office. She said people accused of crimes are presumed innocent and have the right to defend themselves.

But, she added, “I am asking the mayor to seriously and honestly consider whether full attention can be given to our deserving New Yorkers who need our government to be strong and stable.”

Asked about the dismissal of the mayor, Adrienne Adams replied: “We are of course, as I said, very troubled by everything that has happened. We are not ready today to give a response to this “We will continue to monitor the situation, to be in discussions with our colleagues at the city and state level as we all monitor the situation and see how it develops.”

Current Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso calls on Mayor Adams to put ‘New Yorkers first’

Current Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Brooklyn City Councilman Chi Osse are calling on Mayor Adams to resign. In a message posted on social media, Reynoso asked the mayor to put “New Yorkers” first.

“Through this, the mayor will realize his inability to lead,” Reynoso said.

Before being elected mayor, Eric Adams held the title of Brooklyn Borough President and also represented Brooklyn as a state senator.

Robert Holden NYC Council District 30 on Adams indictment

“I don’t know how you defend that. I’m for good government. I’m for leadership. I’m for honesty. This is anything but.”

Lincoln Restler NYC Council District 33 on Adams’ resignation

“If he does not resign and do what is right and responsible to the people of New York, he should be removed from office.”

White House responds to Adams’ claims about indictment

The White House objected to the New York City mayor’s claims that he was targeted over his objections to the administration’s efforts to address immigration and border crossing issues, saying the Justice Department’s actions were independent of politics.

“The president made it clear, even when he was a candidate in 2020, that he would ensure that the DOJ was independent and that the DOJ handled this matter independently,” the White House press secretary said, Karine Jean-Pierre, to journalists during Thursday’s press briefing.

Adams’ administration has been bogged down in attempts to house tens of thousands of international migrants who have overwhelmed the city’s homeless shelters, with Adams at odds with President Joe Biden over funding and strategy to manage the influx of new residents.

Democratic leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries calls Adams’ indictment a ‘serious and sober moment for New York City’

Jeffries is the Democratic leader of the United States House of Representatives and a New Yorker.

“Like all other New Yorkers and Americans, Eric Adams is entitled to the presumption of innocence. This principle is central to the administration of justice in the United States of America,” Jeffries said in a statement. “A jury of the Mayor’s peers will now evaluate the charges in the indictment and ultimately render a decision. In the meantime, I pray for the well-being of our great city.”

Former political science professor says Adams indictment will cause leadership vacuum

Douglas Muzzio, a retired Baruch College political science professor with extensive knowledge of New York politics, said the indictment would cause a leadership vacuum at the highest levels of city government as ‘Adams would try to fend off the accusations.

“Soon, entire departments will be on lockdown, and as people worry about their jobs and their futures, the momentum of the city will slow down significantly,” Muzzio said. “The impact is going to be real and substantial, especially with the mayor out and many of his commissioners have resigned, will resign or are in the shadows.”

ALSO READ: What is Mayor Eric Adams responsible for? Read the indictment

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