Politics / September 26, 2024
The Southern District has indicted the mayor of New York City, Eric Adams. While the nature of the indictment is significant—accusations include seeking and accepting illegal campaign contributions, improper valuable benefits such as international travel, wire fraud, bribery, and conspiracy—the implications are far-reaching. The 57-page indictment highlights connections between Adams and individuals in Turkey.
The current indictment could be just the beginning, with at least three other federal corruption probes into the Adams administration. Key figures close to Adams, such as his former fundraiser Brianna Suggs and director of Asian affairs Winnie Greco, are also under scrutiny. Additionally, the FBI has seized the phones of several key officials, including Schools Chancellor David Banks, who has announced his resignation, and his brother Philip Banks, the deputy mayor for public safety. The police commissioner Edward Caban had resigned following the seizure of his phone by the FBI.
Eric Adams, now the first sitting New York mayor to ever be indicted, faces accusations that date back to 2014 when he served as Brooklyn borough president. Despite the legal turmoil, Adams has vowed to remain in office, comparing his battle to that of Donald Trump and suggesting unnamed enemies are attempting to bring him down. However, it is not conspiracy but potentially his own actions and decisions that threaten to unravel his administration.
The alleged infractions portray a picture of petty corruption reminiscent of older political machinations, highlighting a pattern seen throughout Adams’s political career. He faced near-indictments during his tenure as a state senator and controversies as Brooklyn borough president.
The future for New York City remains uncertain. Paralysis has reportedly set in at City Hall, exacerbated by Adams’s purportedly poor management style, leading to a lack of significant public policy achievements. The city’s charter vests substantial power in the mayor, responsible for overseeing a budget larger than some nations. Given the current crisis, city governance has been severely impacted.
Removing an executive from office proves to be more challenging than ousting a legislator. While many prominent figures, like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have called for Adams’s resignation, the only comparable move would come from Governor Kathy Hochul, who holds constitutional powers to remove the mayor. Hochul, an ally of Adams, has shown reluctance, possibly due to the unresolved legal status.
If Adams were to resign, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams would become acting mayor until a special election is held roughly three months later. The special election, unlike the Democratic primary, would be open to all voters and conducted using ranked-choice voting (RCV).
Several candidates present viable alternatives for progressives and others. Jumaane Williams, affiliated with the Working Families Party, has a potential edge as acting mayor but would face competition. City Comptroller Brad Lander, a progressive ally of Williams, could also be a strong contender. The special election dynamics could see cooperation rather than fragmentation among progressive candidates due to the RCV system.
Former City Comptroller Scott Stringer, despite past controversies, and current candidates like state Senators Zellnor Myrie and Jessica Ramos might also enter the fray, though they would face significant challenges in gaining citywide recognition quickly.
Moreover, former Governor Andrew Cuomo remains a looming figure, potentially seizing this turmoil as an opportunity to re-enter politics. Despite his tainted record, he could leverage the chaos for a comeback.
The process ahead remains highly unpredictable. No precedent exists for dealing with an indicted sitting mayor nor navigating the aftermath. Therefore, any definitive projections for New York City’s governance over the next six months remain speculative.
