Eric Adams, the New York City mayor, has said he will stay in office despite reports emerging that he had been indicted following a federal corruption investigation.
It is still unclear what charges Adams, 64, will face but federal prosecutors are expected to layout the details of the charges Thursday, the New York Times reported.
Once the reported indictment, which was reported separately by the Associated Press and CBS, is released, he will be the first sitting New York City mayor to be criminally charged.
After the news broke, Adams released in a video statement that implied he hadn’t been informed of the indictment. “I always knew that if I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target – and a target I became,” Adams said. “If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit.”
In the speech recorded at his official residence, Adams acknowledged that some New Yorkers would question his ability to manage the city while he fights the charges, but he vowed to stay in office.
“I have been facing these lies for months … yet the city has continued to improve,” Adams said. “Make no mistake. You elected me to lead this city and lead it I will.”
Avi Small, a spokesman for Governor Kathy Hochul, who has the power to remove Adams from office, told the Times in a statement the governor was aware and would be monitoring the situation. “It would be premature to comment further until the matter is confirmed by law enforcement,” Small said.
The news comes as some of his closest aides and advisers have come under federal investigation as prosecutors in the city began examining his inner circle.
The development regarding Adams comes less than a month after federal agents raided the homes of high-ranking officials within Adams’ administration. Agents seized devices from the home of the New York police department commissioner.
Police set up barriers outside Gracie Mansion, the mayor’s home, according to the New York Post. The outlet reported that City Hall officials were aware Wednesday morning that Adams would soon be indicted, sending staff into a panic throughout the day.
The US attorney’s office in Manhattan declined to comment.
Adams, who is expecting a tough primary election next year, faced immediate calls to resign from many of his declared or expected Democratic challengers.
Brad Lander, the city’s comptroller, said the indictment marked “a sad day for New Yorkers”. Senator Zellnor Myrie also called the indictment “sad” and added that it was “especially painful for so many Black New Yorkers who put our hope and faith in this mayor”.
Scott Stringer, a former city comptroller who is expected to run against Adams, said: “The mayor needs to resign for the good of the city.
“There is simply zero chance that the wheels of government will move forward from this full steam ahead,” Stringer said.
If Adams were to resign, he would be replaced by the city’s public advocate, Jumaane Williams, who would then schedule a special election.
Federal investigations into his administration first emerged publicly on 2 November 2023 when FBI agents conducted an early morning raid on the Brooklyn home of Adams’ chief fundraiser, Brianna Suggs.
At the time, Adams insisted he followed the law and said he would be “shocked” if anyone on his campaign had acted illegally. “I cannot tell you how much I start the day with telling my team we’ve got to follow the law,” he told reporters at the time.
Days later, FBI agents seized the mayor’s phones and iPad as he was leaving an event in Manhattan. The interaction was disclosed several days later by the mayor’s attorney.
Then, on 4 September, federal investigators seized electronic devices from the city’s police commissioner, schools chancellor, deputy mayor of public safety, first deputy mayor and other trusted confidantes of Adams both in and out of City Hall.
Federal prosecutors declined to discuss the investigations but people familiar with elements of the cases described multiple, separate inquiries involving senior Adams aides, relatives of those aides, campaign fundraising and possible influence peddling of the police and fire departments.