New York Governor Kathy Hochul left open the possibility of removing Mayor Eric Adams from office on Thursday night amid allegations that federal authorities were prepared to dismiss his criminal case in exchange for his assistance with President Trump’s immigration crackdown.
As the sole state official empowered to remove Adams, Hochul revealed during an appearance on MSNBC that she is consulting with government officials about the mayor’s future.
Speaking with host Rachel Maddow, she mentioned having read a letter from former acting Manhattan US Attorney Danielle Sassoon that alleged Adams’ legal team proposed a “quid pro quo” in hopes of having his federal charges dropped.
“The allegations are extremely concerning and serious, but I cannot as the governor of this state have a knee-jerk, politically motivated reaction like a lot of other people are saying right now,” Hochul said.
“I have to do what’s smart, what’s right and I’m consulting with other leaders in government at this time,” she added. “This just happened. I need some time to process this and figure out the right approach.”
Her remarks come on the heels of her deputy, Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, urging Adams to resign and accusing him of being beholden to President Trump.
“New York City deserves a Mayor accountable to the people, not beholden to the President,” Delgado stated in a terse social media post. “Mayor Adams should step down.”
A spokesperson for City Hall dismissed these comments, insisting that Adams would remain in office. “Mayor Adams has been clear over and over again, he’s not stepping down, he’s stepping up,” the spokesperson said on Thursday night.
However, Hochul’s office quickly clarified that Delgado’s statements do not reflect the governor’s views. “Gov. Hochul is carefully reviewing these allegations,” a spokesperson told The Post. “Lieutenant Governor Delgado does not now and has not ever spoken on behalf of this administration.”
In her resignation letter, Sassoon alleged that at a January 31 meeting in Washington, D.C., Adams’ attorneys “repeatedly urged what amounted to a quid pro quo,” suggesting that he would assist with immigration enforcement if his indictment were dropped. Bloomberg via Getty Images reported that Manhattan US Attorney Danielle Sassoon claimed this quid pro quo was offered in hopes of seeing his federal charges dismissed.
“It is a breathtaking and dangerous precedent to reward Adams’s opportunistic and shifting commitments on immigration and other policy matters with dismissal of a criminal indictment,” Sassoon wrote. “Nor will a court likely find that such an improper exchange is consistent with the public interest.”
Defense attorney Alex Spiro dismissed Sassoon’s allegation as a “total lie.” “We offered nothing and the department asked nothing of us,” he said.
Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, who directed Sassoon to file a motion to dismiss the case on Monday, also refuted any notion of a deal between Adams and Trump in a response letter to the Manhattan prosecutor. “(The) Government is not offering to exchange dismissal of a criminal case for Adams’s assistance on immigration enforcement,” the letter stated.
Bove argued that the charges against Adams were “politicized” and undermined his ability to govern the city, while also accusing Sassoon, a Republican, of insubordination. He further contended that because of the pending prosecution, Adams is unable to communicate “directly and candidly” with city officials and federal agencies responsible for national security and crime, ultimately supporting Sassoon’s resignation.
“This situation is unacceptable and directly endangers the lives of millions of New Yorkers,” Bove wrote.
Additionally, Adams announced on Thursday that he was exploring the use of an executive order to reopen a federal immigration space at Rikers Island, which would compel federal authorities to collaborate with local officials in expelling criminal migrants from the US.
This decision follows a meeting on Thursday between Adams and Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan.
{Matzav.com}
Oh here is the Mrs. righteous talking!
For those who need translation: She is waiting to hear what they will offer her…
Why would the democrats want dangerous criminals who are illegal aliens to stay in the US?! It also cost tax payers to keep the incarcerated! (As temporary as it is.) seems they are inherently deranged!
TELL CHAMAS ALL HOSTEGES OR WE WILL TEACH YOU WHAT CRUELTYT MEANS !
Helping with the immigration issue is actually benefiting the people who voted for him. If he does his job in assisting us, I don’t see a problem with that.
This case is not simple. If you think about it, it would be downright stupid for Adams’ people to actually get involved in a quid pro quo as is being alleged, so that probably didn’t happen. Then again, since most of the case against Adams was obviously politically motivated (trying to punish him for not toeing the line of the leftist woke ideology prevalent in the politics of NYC), Trump’s DOJ’s order to dismiss the charges seems like a balance-the-books revenge tactic we’ve seen from Trump alot (albeit probably justified!), and seemingly not so kosher. Ultimately, this whole noise-making mess being promulgated by NYC is probably another tepid attempt to “control” Trump, and although it casts a seeming pallor of dishonesty on Trump and his DOJ, it’ll probably wash out in the end with not much damage to Trump. What will happen with Adams is not so open and shut, but I wouldn’t be surprised if, with all the Democrat pressure being put on him, the people of NY rally behind him in a much more solid way than if they left him alone and waited for him to lose the next election (similar to Trump’s surging popularity due to all the false charges et al against him as he campaigned for the presidency). Just thinking out loud…
Good points. I agree with your assessment.
Rashantah!
But Bragg the manhattan DA who lets out serious criminals is ok in the governors eyes. Why don’t she kick him out.
If she could remove him from office, that is an utterly insane law. This person in Albany who has little connection to New York City is going to make a decision for here? That’s like only telling us what the speed limits could be in New York City. Oh, that’s right they do that already.
New York State is really really really messed up!
So this failed governor wants to illegally remove Mayor Adams from his elected position but she won’t even entertain the thought of removing Alvin Bragg or getting rid of cashless bail reform. A real lowlife piece of horse manure.
Hochul wants to remove Adams, while just a few days ago Matzav reported:
The Justice Department declared on Wednesday that it is filing a lawsuit against New York State over its policy of restricting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, putting Gov. Kathy Hochul, state Attorney General Letitia James, and DMV Commissioner Mark Schroeder in the spotlight of Attorney General Pam Bondi’s actions.