NEW YORK – A top House Republican took the opportunity Thursday to castigate Democrats in general after one of them, New York Mayor Eric Adams, was indicted on fraud and bribery charges.
Elise Stefanik (RN.Y.), chair of the Republican Conference of the House of Representatives, an ally of former President Donald Trump who is eager to help her party regain the majority in the House of Representatives, depicted Adams’ alleged corruption as a reflection of the rival party.
Her attack served as a preview of how New York Republicans plan to use the mayor’s legal troubles against other Democrats — even those who don’t know Adams personally — as the parties duke it out in battlegrounds crucial to control of the House of Representatives.
“This is the culmination of the cult of corruption rampant within the New York Democratic Party,” Stefanik said in a statement. “From former disgraced Governor Cuomo and his sycophantic henchmen to the communist Chinese who have infiltrated Kathy Hochul, the least popular New York state. Governor in history, so far Eric Adams.
She said that “of course” Adams should resign. And she promised that Democrats would pay through the ballot box.
Adams has already been featured as a bogeyman in ads and mailers in key New York House of Representatives races — especially in efforts to attack Democrats on crime and immigration. And more attack ads linking the mayor to vulnerable members of his party can be expected in the coming weeks, according to a New York Republican strategist granted anonymity to speak freely.
Federal prosecutors have charged Adams with five counts, including conspiracy to receive illegal foreign campaign contributions, wire fraud and bribery. He claims he accepted generous travel benefits in exchange for paving the way for Turkish officials to build a skyscraper in Manhattan without it meeting safety requirements.
The indictment unsealed Thursday detailed a pattern of misconduct over a decade, dating back to Adams’ days as Brooklyn borough president.
While Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called for Adams’ resignation on Wednesday and Rep. Nydia Velázquez did so on Thursday, few other Democrats in New York’s congressional delegation have followed suit. However, several individuals raised concerns about the scope and severity of the allegations laid out in the 57-page indictment.
“No one is above the law, including the mayor of New York City. The allegations are serious and the legal process should now be swift and fair,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
“The indictment of a sitting mayor is a serious and sober moment for New York City. Like every other New Yorker and American, Eric Adams is entitled to the presumption of innocence,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement. “That principle is central to the administration of justice in the United States of America.”
Jeffries has worked with the mayor on efforts including pressuring the Biden administration to help New York City care for a wave of migrants, but he had backed another Democrat for mayor in the 2021 primary.
Rep. Tom Suozzi, who was once suggested as a possible deputy mayor of New York City, similarly cited the severity of Adams’ situation without calling for his resignation.
“It is sad that yet another public official has been charged. People are losing confidence, but I have confidence in our justice system,” he said in a statement.
Other House Democrats have maintained a relative distance from Adams throughout their careers.
Meanwhile, in central New York, Hochul told reporters she would discuss the mayor’s criminal charges at a later date.
“I will be deliberative, thoughtful, but we will come to the right solution at this time,” she said.
Under the city charter, Adams can be forced out of office in at least two ways: the governor can jump-start the process, or a five-member commission can do so.
In the past two days, four Democratic House challengers have called on the mayor to resign, or at least indicated that resigning would be best.
The National Republican Congressional Committee called Democrats “enablers” of Adams. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee had not commented as of Thursday afternoon.
Jason Beeferman, Nicholas Wu, Daniella Diaz and Madison Fernandez contributed to this report.
