Investigations into the Eric Adams administration

Eric Adams giving a thumbs up to reporters out of frame, and surrounded by officials.
Eric Adams after he was arraigned and pled not guilty
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Eric Adams

There have been several investigations into the Eric Adams administration since he became Mayor of New York City in 2022.

Chief among these investigations is the ongoing federal prosecution of Eric Adams overseen by the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York that resulted in the criminal indictment of Adams. This indictment charges Adams with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States; one count of wire fraud; two counts of soliciting campaign contributions from foreign nationals; and one count of soliciting and accepting a bribe.[1][2] On October 8, former Adams' Chief Liaison to the Muslim Community Mohamed Bahi, who had resigned the day prior, was arrested and charged with witness tampering and destruction of evidence in connection with Adams' indictment and the investigation of illegal contributions made to Adams’ mayoral campaign.[3][4]

Law enforcement interest in a wide swath of Adams's City Hall led to a number of unscheduled departures from the administration before Adams' indictment.[5] The New York City Department of Investigation and New York County District Attorney arrested Buildings Commissioner Eric Ulrich in 2022 for an alleged bribery scheme, forcing him to leave the administration. He awaits trial in New York Supreme Court.[6] A set of raids by IRS Criminal Investigation led to the resignation of Police Commissioner Edward Caban.[7] Similar warrant seizures of phones by the Federal Bureau of Investigation preceded the resignation of Schools Chancellor David C. Banks and Deputy Mayor Philip Banks III.[8][9]

As the charges have mounted, a number of New York City-area elected officials have called for Adams to resign.[10][11] Under the New York City Charter the New York State Governor holds the power to suspend the Mayor for 30 days and ultimately remove him.[12] Governor Kathy Hochul has so far declined to exercise this right or call for Adams's resignation, saying that, "It's now up to Mayor Adams to show the City that he is able to lead," while under indictment.[13] The charter also contains language to remove a mayor via a never-before-used "inability committee",[14] consisting of the city's corporation counsel, comptroller, council speaker, senior borough president, and one deputy mayor.[15] It would take four votes to start the process of removing the mayor - temporarily or permanently - which he could dispute,[16] and would still need to pass the full council.[17]

Adams calls the charges "entirely false, based on lies", and has vowed to fight the charges.[18] Adams and his defenders maintain the charges are retaliation for his opposing the Biden-Harris administration's handling of the migrant crisis.[19]

  1. ^ "Southern District of New York | New York City Mayor Eric Adams Charged With Bribery And Campaign Finance Offenses | United States Department of Justice". www.justice.gov. United States Department of Justice. September 26, 2024. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  2. ^ Rashbaum, William; Rubinstein, Dana; Rothfeld, Michael; Haag, Matthew (September 25, 2024). "Eric Adams Is Indicted in New York". The New York Times. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  3. ^ Rashbaum, William K.; Rothfeld, Michael; Rubinstein, Dana; Pallaro, Bianca (October 8, 2024). "City Hall Official Charged With Witness Tampering in Adams Inquiry". New York Times. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  4. ^ Sommerfeldt, Chris; Crane-Newman, Molly; Stratman, Josephine (October 8, 2024). "Former Adams aide Mohamed Bahi charged in NYC City Hall federal corruption investigation". New York Daily News. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference officials resign was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Offenhartz, Jake (September 13, 2023). "Former NYC buildings commissioner accused of trading favors for cash, Mets tickets and more". AP News. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference :8 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Honan, Katie; Smith, Greg B.; Hogan, Gwynne (September 25, 2024). "Mayor Eric Adams Indicted by Federal Prosecutors". The City. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference resignation_calls was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ "Section 9. Removal of mayor". American Legal Publishing. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  13. ^ "Statement from Governor Kathy Hochul | Governor Kathy Hochul". www.governor.ny.gov. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  14. ^ Tecotzky, Alice; Lee, Lloyd. "What it would take to remove embattled New York City Mayor Eric Adams from office". Business Insider. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  15. ^ "No NYC mayor has resigned in decades. But here's what would happen if they did". City & State NY. September 26, 2024. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  16. ^ Russo-Lennon, Barbara; Pozarycki, Robert (September 26, 2024). "Mayor Adams indictment: What happens if he chooses to resign – or is removed from office? | amNewYork". www.amny.com. Retrieved October 2, 2024. members of the city government could also form an ad-hoc "inability committee" to remove the mayor… five members: the city's corporation council, comptroller, speaker of the city council, the borough president with the longest term in office — and even a deputy mayor appointed by the mayor himself… those members would be Lander, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Speaker Adrienne Adams… city does have an acting corporation counsel, who has the full powers of the office… Experts say the city charter's provisions are unclear on what constitutes inability or whether a mayor under indictment meets such a definition.
  17. ^ Kim, Elizabeth; Brand, David (September 26, 2024). "What happens if Mayor Adams resigns – or refuses to leave City Hall?". Gothamist. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  18. ^ Cohen, Luc (September 26, 2024). "New York Mayor Adams faces criminal indictment, vows to fight charges". Reuters. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  19. ^ Lemire, Jonathan; Stokols, Eli (September 26, 2024). "Joe Biden cut ties with Eric Adams two years ago". Politico. Retrieved September 27, 2024.