Manhattan Acting Federal Prosecutor Danielle Sassoon accused in her resignation letter that Mayor Adams’s legal team had proposed a “quid pro quo” arrangement during a meeting with Department of Justice officials on January 31st. Adams was willing to assist the federal government in strengthening immigration enforcement in exchange for dropping the federal charges against him.
As the only elected official in New York State with the authority to remove Mayor Adams from office, Governor Hochu revealed in an interview on MSNBC on February 13th that she had read the contents of Sassoon’s letter, stating that the allegations were “extremely serious.” However, she emphasized that as the Governor, she could not make a hasty, politically motivated response and was carefully evaluating the situation in discussions with government officials regarding Adams’s future.
This accusation has sparked widespread reactions in the New York political arena. Lieutenant Governor Delgado publicly called for Adams’s resignation, stating that “New York City needs a mayor who is accountable to the citizens, not a leader influenced by the President. Adams should resign.” However, Governor Hochu’s office clarified that the Lieutenant Governor’s statement did not represent the state government’s position.
Nevertheless, a spokesperson for the New York City Hall promptly responded on the evening of the 13th, stating that Adams would not resign and would continue to fulfill his duties.
Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove criticized Sassoon’s actions as being “overly politicized,” affecting the mayor’s ability to effectively govern the city of New York.
Bove emphasized in his statement that the federal government did not make dropping criminal charges a condition for Adams to assist with immigration enforcement. Adams’s defense attorney, Alex Spiro, denied Sassoon’s accusations.
Hochu stressed that the incident had just occurred, and she needed some time to consider the appropriate course of action.
As of now, Hochu has not made a final decision on whether to initiate the process of removing Mayor Adams from office, nor has she ruled out the possibility of dismissing Adams in accordance with the law.