New York City Mayor Adam Adams arrived at the Thurgood Marshall Courthouse located at 40 Foley Square in downtown Manhattan on Wednesday, around 1:45 pm on February 19.
Adams, accompanied by his legal team and Department of Justice representative Emil Bove, met with federal judge Dale Ho to explain the reasons for the dismissal of the charges.
Last Friday, the Department of Justice signed a dismissal of the five corruption charges against Adams. This led to the resignation of eight prosecutors, including the Southern District Attorney, and the departure of four deputy mayors from Adams’ team.
Those who resigned expressed their dissatisfaction with the dismissal, believing that Adams had made a deal with the federal government: cooperating with ICE to arrest immigration offenders in exchange for the DOJ dropping the charges against him.
However, Adams has denied this accusation both in writing and verbally, stating there was no “quid pro quo” between him and the government. The DOJ also denied such allegations.
Judge Ho, appointed by President Biden, stated in a court order on the 18th that both the defense and prosecution need to be prepared to discuss the reasons for dismissal, what Adams agreed to, and what the next steps in the case will be.
Currently, a hearing is ongoing in the courtroom, so stay tuned for updates on this matter.
Multiple New York Democrats are calling for Adams to resign, but he has consistently stated he will not step down. Therefore, there are calls for Governor Hochul to legally remove Adams from office. The previous day, the Governor met with several Democratic leaders to discuss the matter. Hochul mentioned that the situation is unprecedented, and they should await the court’s decision today.
New Yorkers have varying opinions on whether the Governor should remove Adams from office.
Moderate Democrats and Republicans believe that Adams’ fate should be left to the voters to decide, especially with the party primaries just a few months away in June.
For example, New York Democratic Congressman Gregory W. Meeks, who attended yesterday’s meeting, released a statement on X platform, stating, “While the situation in New York City is concerning, leaders should demonstrate respect for the rule of law, people’s votes, and due process at this time.”
“Whether it’s the President or the Governor, any elected official should not unilaterally decide the fate of our Mayor or any duly elected official,” Meeks said. “We must follow the procedures outlined in New York law, and let the judicial process play out in tomorrow’s hearing. Our primary duty, Governor Hochul’s and mine, is to ensure the interests of all New Yorkers are respected and represented.”
Moreover, the Democratic faction advocating for Adams’ removal from office is endorsing City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams to run for Mayor. Some are also urging former Governor Cuomo to run for Mayor in the next term, as recent polls have shown high levels of support for Cuomo.