US: A growing list of Democrats are calling on New York City Mayor Eric Adams to resign

US: As his administration continues to be dogged by federal investigations, an increasing number of Democrats are urging New York City Mayor Eric Adams to step down.

According to those who talked with The New York Times, the first-term Democrat was charged with federal crimes on Wednesday. This makes him the first mayor in the history of the city to be charged while serving in office. Although the specifics of the accusations are yet unknown, they were brought about over a year after Adams’ personal devices were taken by FBI agents as he was leaving a Manhattan event.

Subsequent inquiries concerning Adams’ administration have been initiated. Earlier this month, federal agents conducted a house search and confiscated the phones of multiple high-ranking city officials, such as public schools Chancellor David Banks and New York City Police Commissioner Edward Caban, who have subsequently tendered their resignations.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Adams said that he “always knew that If I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target—and a target I became.”

“I am innocent and will fight this with all of my strength and spirit, even if I am charged,” said Adams, the second-ever Black mayor of New York City.

A running list of Democrats urging Adams to step down may be seen below.

• Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: Ocasio-Cortez of New York became the first member of Congress to urge the mayor to resign, telling The New York Times in a statement that she could “not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City,” hours before rumors of the mayor’s indictment surfaced. Government operations are in danger due to the deluge of resignations and openings. It will be hard to find and keep a competent administration if investigations are conducted nonstop. He ought to step down for the benefit of the city.”

Andrew Yang, a progressive politician who unsuccessfully challenged Adams for mayor of New York City in 2021, stated on CNN on Wednesday night that he thinks Adams “should resign in order to give a new leader a chance to right the ship and get the city back to a place where it can hire and retain high-quality leaders to try and move the city forward.” Yang criticized Adams for being the target of a “trifecta” of corruption probes during a primary discussion in the 2021 race. On Wednesday, Yang told CNN, “it’s painful to be proven right.”

• Brad Lander, the City’s Comptroller: He said in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday night that the charges against Adams represent “a sad day for New Yorkers,” and that “the hardworking people of New York City deserve a city government and leadership they can trust.” They do not currently own it.” Democrat Lander is vying to defeat Republican Adams in the 2025 election.
• Former New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer: Echoing Ocasio-Cortez’s remarks made hours earlier, Stringer said on Wednesday night that Adams should “resign for the good of the city.” Stringer said, “There is simply zero chance that the wheels of government will move forward from this full steam ahead.” Stringer is also a candidate in the Democratic primary for mayor of next year.
• State Senator Zellnor Myrie of New York: In response to the charges against Adams, Myrie, a fellow Democratic candidate for mayor of New York, told The New York Times on Wednesday that “we need a leader who is fully focused, without distraction, on the enormous challenges we face.”
• Democratic state senator from New York: Brad Hoylman, said in a post to his X account on Wednesday night that “Mayor Adams’ continued office tenure while facing a federal indictment is untenable.” He must go right now.”
• Lincoln Restler councilman for New York City: said in a statement on Wednesday that Adams “can no longer govern” and that he has “lost the trust of the everyday New Yorkers we elected to serve.” Restler represents portions of Brooklyn. If Adams “refuses, he must be removed from office as prescribed by the charter,” he said in the message addressed to X. The people of New York deserve so much more.

According to a story in The New York Times, Senators John Liu, Gustavo Rivera, Julia Salazar, and Jabari Brisport of New York State, as well as members of the City Council Tiffany Cabán, Alexa Avilés, and Shekar Krishnan, have also called for Adams’ resignation.

Democrat and Adams ally Kathy Hochul, the governor of New York, has the authority to remove the mayor from office. The public advocate for the city, Jumaane Williams, will take over as acting mayor in the event that he steps down or is ousted.

Like a number of well-known Democrats in New York, Hochul has not yet commented on Adams’ indictment. Prior to the indictment being made public earlier on Wednesday, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said that Adams was “working as hard as he can to be the best mayor possible.”

“We need Eric Adams to be successful as mayor because he is the mayor at this moment in time,” Jeffries said.