New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced Thursday that she will not remove New York City Mayor Eric Adams from office but will impose increased state oversight on his administration. The decision follows mounting pressure from within the Democratic Party to oust Adams after federal prosecutors dropped corruption charges against him, sparking allegations of a political deal with the Trump administration.
"After careful consideration, I have determined that I will not commence removal proceedings at this time," Hochul told reporters. "My strong belief is that the will of the voters and the supremacy and sanctity of democratic elections preclude me from any other action."
Adams, who was indicted last year on bribery and corruption charges, has denied any wrongdoing. The Trump administration's recent decision to drop the charges has intensified scrutiny, with critics accusing the White House of using legal leverage to secure Adams' cooperation on federal immigration enforcement. Adams has publicly aligned himself with Trump's crackdown on migrants without legal status, leading to speculation about a "quid pro quo" arrangement.
Hochul's announcement came alongside a series of measures aimed at curbing Adams' authority. The governor outlined plans to appoint a special inspector general to oversee the mayor's administration and grant the state comptroller expanded powers to scrutinize city finances. She also proposed empowering New York's city comptroller, public advocate, and City Council speaker to take legal action against the federal government when necessary.
"This is an opportunity to install safeguards that we need to have in place to give people confidence that there's only one factor in every decision that's made, and that's what's best for the people of the city," Hochul said.
The announcement comes at a critical moment for Adams, who has faced growing opposition from Democratic lawmakers. "The last thing the people of New York want is for our city to turn into an annex of the Trump administration, yet that's exactly what is happening," said state Sen. Mike Gianaris. "Eric Adams is clearly compromised and can no longer be considered the legitimate leader of our city."
Federal prosecutors originally charged Adams in September, accusing him of accepting over $100,000 in illicit benefits and campaign contributions in exchange for political favors benefiting Turkish business and government interests. While the Department of Justice has suspended the charges, it retains the option to reinstate them, raising concerns about Adams' ability to make independent decisions without fear of federal reprisal.
During a federal hearing in Manhattan on Wednesday, Adams denied that he was under pressure from the Trump administration. When asked by U.S. District Judge Dale Ho if he had been threatened by federal officials, Adams responded, "No, your honor." Ho has not yet ruled on whether the corruption charges will remain on hold.
Adams' administration has been destabilized by recent events, with four of his deputy mayors resigning in the past week. His growing ties to the Trump administration have further fueled controversy, particularly after he allowed federal immigration authorities to operate within the city's jail complex on Rikers Island.
Trump's border czar Tom Homan made headlines last week when he issued what some interpreted as a warning to Adams. "If [Adams] doesn't come through, I'll be back in New York City...in his office up his butt saying where the hell is the agreement we came to?" Homan said during a Fox News interview.
