(The Center Square) — New York City Mayor Eric Adams is leaning on his faith and refusing to step down from office following last week’s indictment on federal charges despite a growing chorus of calls among fellow Democrats for him to resign.
In a fiery speech at Emmanuel Presbyterian Reformed Church in the Bronx on Sunday, the embattled mayor claimed he is innocent and said he has no intentions of leaving office. He vowed to fight the five-count federal indictment charging him with bribery, fraud and campaign finance violations, which has made him the first sitting New York City mayor to be charged with crimes.
“God placed me in this moment and placed in my heart to continue to move this city forward,” Adams, a Democrat, said in remarks from the pulpit. “And so you’ll hear the small number of loud people saying, ‘But he should step down.’ No, I’m going to step up. I’m not going to resign. I’m not going to resign. I’m going to reign.”
On Saturday, Adams had a similarly religious message for parishioners at the Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral of New York in Queens during an event celebrating a new reverend, saying he is leaning on his faith as he fights the charges that could have him removed from office.
“I do a lot of praying and I’m looking when I leave here to go on and continuing to do what I do moving our city forward,” Adams told reporters outside the church.
Last week, Adams pleaded not guilty to federal charges accusing him of taking bribes and illegal campaign donations from Turkish nationals. He is expected back in court on Wednesday. His attorney, Alex Spiro, has said he plans to file a motion to dismiss the charges, calling the federal government’s investigation an “airline upgrade corruption case.”
Federal prosecutors accuse Adams of seeking and accepting more than $100,000 in illegal gifts, like travel and campaign contributions from the Turkish government and wealthy foreign business owners dating back to his days as Brooklyn borough president. He’s also accused of accepting more than $10 million in illegal ‘straw’ donations traced to Turkey.
The indictment, unsealed by the U.S. Attorney for Southern New York on Thursday, alleges that Adams was not only aware that his actions were illegal, but encouraged them. In exchange for free travel perks and illegal campaign contributions, Adams allegedly pressured an official with the New York Fire Department to allow a Turkish consulate building to open despite safety concerns, federal prosecutors said.
Adams has suggested that he has been targeted by the Biden administration over his vocal pushback to federal immigration policies that have flooded his city with hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers.
Rev. Al Sharpton, a long time Adams ally and fixture in New York Democratic politics, came to the mayor’s defense over the weekend and said he should not be pressured to resign despite the federal indictment.
“If the man decides he cannot run the city well and defend himself, then he will have to make that decision,” he said in remarks at an event over the weekend. “Let the mayor decide where he wants to go.”
But his comments come as a growing chorus of Democrats are calling on Adams to step down over concerns that his legal troubles could impact their chances of taking control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the November election.
Republicans have an eight-seat majority in the House, with three vacancies in Democratic districts. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat, would become the first Black speaker if the party wins a majority in the chamber.
Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul has the authority to remove Adams from office, but hasn’t hinted at whether she will do so despite labeling the charges against the mayor as troubling. If Adams does resign, Public Advocate Jumaane William would take over the post as interim mayor until a special election is held.
