Four of New York City Mayor Eric Adams' top deputies resigned on Monday, deepening the turmoil within his administration as he continues to grapple with political fallout from a federal corruption case that was abruptly dropped last week. The departures come amid growing scrutiny over the Justice Department's decision to dismiss charges against Adams and increasing pressure from lawmakers calling for his resignation.
Maria Torres-Springer, first deputy mayor; Anne Williams-Isom, deputy mayor for health and human services; Meera Joshi, deputy mayor for operations; and Chauncey Parker, deputy mayor for public safety, submitted their resignations Monday morning. "I am disappointed to see them go, but given the current challenges, I understand their decision and wish them nothing but success in the future," Adams said in a statement.
The timing of the resignations follows last week's Justice Department directive to drop federal bribery and corruption charges against Adams, a move that led to resignations among prosecutors who had pursued the case. Federal officials cited Adams' role in assisting the Trump administration's immigration crackdown as justification for dismissing the charges, a rationale that has sparked controversy and allegations of a political deal.
A joint statement from Torres-Springer, Williams-Isom, and Joshi indicated that their decisions stemmed from recent events that had placed them in an untenable position. "Due to the extraordinary events of the last few weeks and to stay faithful to the oaths we swore to New Yorkers and our families, we have come to the difficult decision to step down from our roles," the three officials said. Parker, who joined the administration more recently, stated, "Serving as deputy mayor for public safety under Mayor Adams has been an honor of a lifetime."
The resignations have escalated tensions in city government, with Governor Kathy Hochul stating that she plans to meet with city leaders to discuss the administration's future. "If they feel unable to serve in City Hall at this time, that raises serious questions about the long-term future of this mayoral administration," Hochul said. Some state and city officials, including City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, have called for the mayor's resignation, arguing that his ability to lead has been compromised.
The Justice Department's decision to drop charges against Adams has sparked backlash from former prosecutors and legal experts. Nathaniel Akerman, a former Watergate prosecutor, urged a federal judge to appoint a special counsel to independently review the Justice Department's actions. There was "overwhelming evidence from DOJ's own internal documents showing that the dismissal of the Adams indictment is not in the public interest and is part of a corrupt quid pro quo between Mayor Adams and the Trump administration," Akerman wrote in a letter to the court.
The corruption case against Adams, which was dismissed "without prejudice" last week, could potentially be refiled at a later date. Adams had been accused of soliciting and accepting illegal campaign contributions and travel perks from foreign nationals while serving as Brooklyn borough president. His attorney, Alex Spiro, has denied allegations that the case was dropped as part of a deal with the Trump administration. Spiro said the allegation of a quid pro quo is a "total lie".
Following the Justice Department's decision, Adams met with Trump's border czar and announced his intent to expand New York City's law enforcement collaboration with federal immigration authorities. The move has fueled speculation that his cooperation was a factor in the dismissal of charges.
City Comptroller Brad Lander, a candidate challenging Adams in the June mayoral primary, demanded a plan from the administration to address the leadership vacuum left by the four deputy mayors' departures. "These departures would create an unprecedented leadership vacuum at the highest levels of City government and wreak havoc on the city's ability to deliver essential services to New Yorkers," Lander wrote in a letter.
