New York Governor Kathy Hochul said today she will leave embattled and indicted NYC Mayor Eric Adams in his job but with guardrails including a new Inspector General for the city, and giving independently elected city officials power to litigate against the federal government.
“To move this city forward, I am undertaking the implementation of certain guardrails that I believe are a first start toward re-establishing trust for New York City residents,”Hochul said in a statement. “These proposed guardrails will help ensure that all decisions out of City Hall are in the clear interests of the people of New York City and not at the behest of the President.”
Adams responded: “I was elected by the people of New York City and its working-class communities to uphold their values — and that is what our administration has done. While there is no legal basis for limiting New Yorkers’ power by limiting the authority of my office, I have told the governor, as we have done in the past, that I am willing to work with her to ensure faith in our government is strong. I look forward to continuing those conversations.”
Federal prosecutors in the Big Apple charged Adams in September with taking over $100k in illegal campaign donations and benefits — including airline tickets and flight upgrades — in exchange for favors to Turkish government interests. He pled not guilty to corruption and bribery charges and a trial was scheduled for late April.
However, the Trump administration recently asked that the charges be dropped, prompting acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Danielle Sassoon, to resign in protest. Other prosecutors followed.
Sassoon alleged that Adams and the DOJ engaged in a quid pro quo to have the charges dropped and Adams cooperate with the administration’s immigration crackdown. Acting U.S. Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, and Adams, have denied the exisitence of a quid pro quo. Bove said the DOJ request was grounded in an executive order signed by Donald Trump against the weaponization of prosecutorial power.
A federal judge must approve the motion to dismiss.
The news today capped days of speculation over whether Hochul would remove Adams from office. Proposing such a move is in the power of the governor but has never been used to eject a sitting mayor.
Hochul’s proposals, instead include new actions “to restore public trust in New York City government” and “protect New Yorkers.” They require legislative approval and would take effect immediately upon passage.
The proposals include: a new Special Inspector General for New York City Affairs to be established within the Office of the New York State Inspector General. The Special Inspector General for New York City Affairs will receive updates and information directly from the New York City Department of Investigations (NYCDOI) about corruption investigations, and also be able to direct NYCDOI to commence investigations across city government.
“To ensure her continued independence, the New York City Charter will be revised to provide that the Mayor of New York City will not be able to terminate the New York City Commissioner of Investigation without approval by the State Inspector General.
This new structure will ensure that state officials have access to information about any current or future investigations. It will also allow the State to closely monitor or advance any such investigations into potential corruption within city government,” Hochul’s statement said.
She would also give citywide elected leaders includingthe City Comptroller, Council and Public Advocate, explicit authority to bring litigation against the federal government using outside counsel if the City’s Law Department declines to do so promptly after a request. Such litigation could be filed against any federal government agency or entity, saying, “This action will ensure that New Yorkers have multiple avenues to initiate legal action in cases where the rights or freedoms of New York City residents are under attack by the federal government.”
The State will also expand the Office of the Deputy State Comptroller for City Oversight.
“Given the unprecedented breadth and number of executive orders and other policy documents and notices issued by the Trump Administration, the Governor is proposing additional funds for the Office of the State Comptroller of the City to support the State’s existing ability to continue to monitor the City and its finances in this complex environment.”
“These new resources will enable state officials to more closely monitor New York City’s fiscal operations, and to take any actions needed based on such review.”
