Gov. Hochul 'Reviewing Her Options' After Mayor Adams’ Indictment

NEW YORK CITY — Governor Kathy Hochul — who has the power to remove New York City Mayor Eric Adams from his position — is reportedly "reviewing her options" after he was indicted on five criminal charges Thursday.

The New York City Charter gives Hochul the power to suspend and remove Adams from his job.

Hochul in a statement said she had "carefully reviewed the indictment" and that "New Yorkers deserve to know that their municipal government is working effectively, ethically and in the best interests of the people."

While she did not call for Adams to resign, she did call on him to "show the City that he is able to lead in that manner."

"While I review my options and obligations as the Governor of New York, I expect the mayor to take the next few days to review the situation and find an appropriate path forward to ensure the people of New York City are being well-served by their leaders," Hochul added.

If Adams resigns or is removed from office,Public Advocate Jumaane Williams — a Brooklyn Democrat would be installed as the interim mayor.

Adams is expected to be arraigned at noon Friday.

A growing number of elected officials have urged him to resign, Patch previously reported.

Five-count indictment

Federal prosecutors indicted Mayor Eric Adams for accepting illegal campaign donations from Turkish officials that date back to his time as Brooklyn borough president, according to an unsealed indictment released Thursday.

"For nearly a decade, Adams sought and accepted improper valuable benefits, such as luxury international travel, including from wealthy foreign businesspeople and at least one Turkish government official seeking to gain influence over him," according to the indictment.

In 2018, when Adams announced his plans to run for mayor, he allegedly accepted and sought illegal campaign contributions to his upcoming mayoral campaign, the indictment says.
Adams allegedly smuggled these illegal campaign contributions through "straw" donors, according to the indictment.

As a result, Adams' 2021 mayoral campaign received more than $10,000,000 in public funds.

Adams received benefits and perks from the Turkish officials, including free and discounted airline tickets and hotel accommodations, the indictment states.
The perks were worth more than $100,000, prosecutors said.

In exchange, Turkish officials pressured Adams into getting officials at the fire department to open a new building for the Turkish consulate, despite the building having not passed an inspection.