Democrats slam Mayor Adams as 'political pawn' as DOJ drops charges
The 'Fox & Friends' co-hosts discuss the Democrats' meltdown over NYC Mayor Eric Adams as the Justice Department drops charges against him.
Hours after four New York City deputy mayors resigned amid the fallout from the Justice Department's move to drop a corruption case against Mayor Eric Adams, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she plans to meet with "key leaders" on Tuesday to discuss a "path forward" to ensure stability in the city's government.
"In the 235 years of New York State history, these powers have never been utilized to remove a duly-elected mayor; overturning the will of the voters is a serious step that should not be taken lightly," Hochul said in the statement. "That said, the alleged conduct at City Hall that has been reported over the past two weeks is troubling and cannot be ignored."
Earlier in the day, Hochul spoke with First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer, the governor said. She said Torres-Springer, along with Deputy Mayors Anne Williams-Isom, Meera Joshi and Chauncey Parker, have been strong partners with her administration.
"If they feel unable to serve in City Hall at this time, that raises serious questions about the long-term future of this Mayoral administration," said Hochul.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, both Democrats, are seen side-by-side. Hochul plans to meet with "key leaders" to discuss turmoil involving Mayor Eric Adams amid calls for him to resign after the Justice Department dropped a corruption case against him. (Getty Images)
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander (D) on Monday called on Adams to prove he can still govern the city amid calls for his resignation after the Justice Department dropped the bribery charges against him.
In a letter to Adams, Lander said the potential resignations of the deputy mayors could "create an unprecedented leadership vacuum at the highest levels of City government and wreak havoc on the City’s ability to deliver essential services to New Yorkers."
"Given the gravity of this situation and the chaos it has unleashed among New Yorkers, I formally request that your office promptly develop and present a detailed contingency plan outlining how you intend to manage the City of New York during this period of leadership transition," he wrote.
NEW YORK CITY MAYOR ERIC ADAMS SAYS HE WILL RUN FOR RE-ELECTION AS DEMOCRAT
New York City Mayor Eric Adams departs Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse in New York City on Friday, November 1, 2024. Adams’ lawyers are seeking to have a bribery charge, one of the five federal corruption charges that have been filed against the mayor, dropped. (Adam Gray for Fox News Digital )
"Specifically, please provide immediate confirmation of your plan for appointing interim Deputy Mayors and key managerial staff, along with an anticipated timeline for stabilizing the administration, no later than Friday, February 21, 2025," Lander added.
If Adams fails to provide a plan, Lander said he would seek to convene a meeting of the Inability Committee. Fox News Digital has reached out to Adams' office.
In a letter last week to Attorney General Pam Bondi, acting U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon said Adams was being granted special treatment by the Trump administration after receiving a memo drafted by Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove directing the case against the mayor to be dropped.
Rather than carry out the directive, Sassoon and several others resigned instead. Adams was charged last year with bribery, soliciting campaign contributions from foreign nationals, wire fraud and conspiracy. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Former U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon pictured in an undated official portrait. (Reuters)
Critics say Adams has cozied up to the Trump administration, and offered to cooperate on Trump's illegal immigration crackdown in an effort to get a pardon.
"These resignations come in the wake of deeply concerning actions by the U.S. Justice Department, asking the U.S. District Court to drop the indictments against you, so long as you comply with the White House on matters of immigration and criminal justice policy, which call into question your ability to continue to comply with your duties to New Yorkers under the City Charter," Lander wrote in his letter.
On Sunday, Adams told churchgoers in Queens that he is refusing to resign.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has rebuffed calls for him to resign after the Justice Department dropped a bribery case against him. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
"I have a mission to finish, the mission that God put me on many years ago," Adams said, adding that "God has fortified me."
Adams told "Fox & Friends" in an interview on Friday that he plans to run for re-election as a Democrat.
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