Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) blasted the Trump administration for creating a “perception” that the charges against Eric Adams were dropped due to a deal he struck with the White House.
Adams saw five federal corruption charges, which were levied against him while former President Joe Biden was still in office, recently dismissed by President Donald Trump‘s Department of Justice. This came as Adams was seeking to expedite the trial in order to focus on his reelection campaign. However, Hochul saw the dismissal as an attempt from the Trump administration to “interfere in the operations of our city.”
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“I still hold that option to remove [Eric Adams]. It is an extraordinary power,” Hochul said on CBS News’s Face the Nation Sunday. “I will stand on the fact that we are a nation of laws and one individual, the governor of New York, should not use her voice and her will to override the will of the voters. We have an election in a few months in a primary. I’m going to let the voters decide. But I’m also going to be very cognizant. I need to keep an eye on this situation, especially the way the Trump administration has telegraphed that they want to get into our operations. I have to be the firewall to stop that.”
“So having said that, does that mean you do believe there was a quid pro quo understanding with Eric Adams?” CBS host Margaret Brennan asked.
“I am going by what the perception could be. I cannot let the integrity of the administration and the city of New York be undermined by perception that the Trump administration actually created,” Hochul said. “The reality I will never know. But as long as there’s the faith of New Yorkers that has been undermined by what the Trump administration is doing — is trying to give the appearance of holding the city hostage, those are what — that’s exactly what they’re trying to do. They’re trying to create chaos. But we have to be smart as Democrats and as leaders and parse through this and just go do what’s right.”
Hochul confirmed that she did not discuss Adams’s dismissal with President Donald Trump during their meeting this week.
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Those with connections to Adams have also faced investigation. Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello had his pastoral duties reduced nearly to none when the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn discovered money transfers to the New York City mayor’s office. Four deputy mayors under Adams have also resigned.
While Adams still anticipates to run for reelection, he is facing calls to resign from his fellow New Yorkers.