New York City Mayor Adams said he will not resign after being indicted on five criminal charges in a federal corruption investigation.
During a raucous press conference outside Gracie Mansion on Thursday, rioters shouted at Adams as he denied the allegations, dismissed the charges as a “story,” and asked New Yorkers to “wait and hear our side of the story.”
“It’s an unfortunate day and a painful day,” Adams said, flanked by many of the city’s black religious leaders. “But despite all that, it’s a day that will finally reveal why I’ve been putting up with this for 10 months. And I look forward to defending myself.”
Adams is the first sitting mayor of New York City to be indicted. If he were to resign, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams would take over as mayor.
Although Adams maintains he will not resign, Governor Hochul could force him to step down under the city charter.
“Governor Hochul is aware of these disturbing news reports and is monitoring the situation. It would be premature to comment further until the matter has been confirmed by law enforcement,” Hochul spokesman Avi Small said in a statement.
The indictment, made public Thursday morning, alleges that Adams engaged in a scheme for years to solicit and accept illegal straw donations for his campaign in exchange for lavish travel perks. The charges include conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery, and receiving campaign contributions from foreign nationals; and soliciting a contribution from a foreign national.
Turkish expatriates sought to profit from Adams’ rising political star, prosecutors said. In 2021, when it became clear that Adams, a former NYPD captain who later served as Brooklyn borough president, would become the next mayor, they called in their chips on the relationship — and told Adams it was his turn to “pay them back,” the complaint said.
Adams denied the allegations, stating that he “was the[s] the law.”
“This is not a surprise to us at all,” he said outside the mayor’s official residence on the Upper East Side. “The actions that have unfolded over the last 10 months — the leaks, the commentary, the demonization — it has not surprised us that we have reached this day.”
There were shouts as Adams made his comments, calling him “a disgrace to this city” and “a disgrace to black people.”
Calls for the mayor’s resignation have intensified since Wednesday evening, when news of the charges broke.
Of Anusha Bayya
