Jodi Diodati Administrative Officer | DeKalb County Republican Party
Jodi Diodati Administrative Officer | DeKalb County Republican Party
New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced she will not pursue the removal of New York City Mayor Eric Adams from office. The decision was revealed during a press conference held in her Midtown office.
“After careful consideration, I have determined that I will not commence removal proceedings at this time,” Hochul stated to reporters. She emphasized her belief in the democratic process, saying, “My strong belief is that the will of the voters and the supremacy and sanctity of democratic elections preclude me from any other action.” Hochul added, “I cannot deny the people of this great city the power to make this decision for themselves.”
Despite deciding against removal, Hochul plans to implement measures to limit Adams' executive authority. Her proposals include appointing a “special inspector general” to oversee the mayor’s office and facilitating legal actions by the city comptroller and New York City Council against federal entities.
“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 explained.
The governor faced pressure from Democrats who urged her to use special powers to remove Adams after he agreed with the Department of Justice to drop corruption charges in exchange for cooperation with federal deportation efforts. The New York City charter allows for mayoral removal by the governor under specific conditions.
Adams had been accused of accepting $100,000 in benefits and illegal campaign donations linked to Turkish entities. He has maintained his innocence, labeling the case as political persecution due to his opposition to certain immigration policies.
In response to Hochul's announcement, Adams asserted there is “no legal basis” for limiting his authority. He expressed willingness to collaborate with Hochul, stating, “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.” He added, “I look forward to continuing those conversations.”
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