US: The vote against Eric Adams could impact the distribution of Electoral College votes in New York
US: Eric Adams, the mayor of New York City, is reportedly facing charges. This development may impact how New York distributes its Electoral College votes in November.
The mayor might lose his seat as one of the 28 Democratic presidential electors from the state as a consequence of the criminal investigation against him.
The New York Times said that Adams was charged on federal criminal charges on Wednesday over claims of wrongdoing. It is unknown what accusations the Democrat is facing since the indictment is still sealed.
In reaction to the federal inquiry against him, there have also been speculations on X that Adams would behave as a “faithless” elector by deliberately choosing not to vote for Kamala Harris.
Joel Wertheimer, a human rights lawyer and former assistant staff secretary for Barack Obama, said, “Dream scenario unleashed is a 270-268 electoral college and Eric Adams faithless elector to 269-269.”
However, Gavin Bena, one of Missouri’s ten Democratic presidential electors, said that replacing Adams in the electoral college of New York “won’t cost Harris any votes.”
Adams, who is running for reelection in 2019, will be the first mayor of New York City to be charged with a federal crime while in office as a result of the indictment.
Adams said in a video statement that any accusations made against him are “entirely false, based on lies.” Adams also pledged to hold onto his position as he challenges the accusations.
In November, Harris is anticipated to hold onto the Democratic stronghold. In a recent Siena College survey of 1,003 potential voters, which was conducted from September 11 to 16, the vice president led Donald Trump in New York by 13 points (55 percent to 42).
Even in the event that Adams is unable to fulfill his responsibilities, a procedure is in place to guarantee that New York awards 28 electoral votes. Every Electoral College vote seems to matter in this close contest between Trump and Harris.
Bena said that the other 27 New York electors would choose Adams’ substitute should he be unable to serve as a presidential elector.
Bena said, “It’s not great, but it won’t cost Harris any votes,” on the previous Twitter platform X.
The Biden administration is now in charge of the Department of Justice.
Adams attacked the federal government in his taped remarks, saying that it had “done nothing as its broken immigration policies overloaded our shelter system with no relief.”
Governor Kathy Hochul of New York, however, signed a number of laws into law in September 2023 to improve the state’s democratic system.
This includes making it illegal for “faithless electors” to influence a presidential election result by abstaining from voting for the front-runner.
Anyone discovered voting for a candidate who did not get the most votes will be required to step down.
Adams has not indicated that he plans to be an unfaithful elector.
Members of Adams’ party had already called for his resignation over federal corruption probes involving his administration, even before news of the charge leaked out.
“If I’m charged, I know I’m innocent, and I will request an immediate trial so the New Yorkers can hear the truth,” said Adams in his statement.Many would argue that if I’m prosecuted, I should step down since I can’t run the city and prosecute the case at the same time.
I also recognize that regular New Yorkers will be worried that I won’t be able to do my job while I’m under investigation.”However, ever since I started speaking out for all of you and their investigation began, I have had to deal with these falsehoods for months. Nevertheless, the city has been becoming better.”
The accusations against Adams are anticipated to be made public today by Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
