Gov. Hochul Not Closing Door On Removing Mayor Adams

NEW YORK CITY —Gov. Kathy Hochul, in a Thursday interview with MSNBC, left the door open to possibly using her authority to remove New York City Mayor Eric Adams from office following allegations of a "quid pro quo" between the mayor's lawyers and the Trump administration to get his charges dismissed.

Hochul when asked by host Rachel Maddow said the allegations were "extremely concerning and serious.”

In addition, Hochul said she didn't want to make any “knee-jerk, politically motivated reaction" but made it clear she is evaluating her options.

"Because the latest revelations are so new, I need some time to process this and figure out the right approach.”

On Thursday, Danielle R. Sassoon, acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, resigned from her post rather than dismiss charges against Adams.

In a letter to U.S. Attorney Pam Bondi that was published by the New York Times, Sassoon mentioned the alleged “quid pro quo” where the mayor would assist with immigration enforcement only if the indictment were dismissed.

Similarly, on Friday, Hagan Scotten, an assistant U.S. attorney with the Southern District of New York, resigned.

In a resignation letter to acting deputy attorney general Emil Bove, Scotten said only a
"fool" or "coward" would go ahead and dismiss Adams' charges.