NYS Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins
By Dan Murphy
One of the three most powerful Democrats in New York State has now said that New York City Mayor Eric Adams should resign his post.
Adams, who is up for reelection this year, was indicted last year by former US Attorney Damien Williams for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, two counts of solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national and bribery, related to accepting international flights, luxurious hotel stays and illegal campaign contributions.
State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, from Yonkers, said last week that “It’s probably time that he move aside….We really are spending more time on the mayor in his plight. It’s distracting and we have a job to do. We’re in the middle of a budget.”
Stewart-Cousins joins Lt. Governor Antonio Delgado and State Senate Mike Ginarris in calling for Adams to step down. Adams has refused to step down and instead is planning his reelection camapign.
The Department of Justice under President Trump has withdrawn the charges against Adams, causing an outcry across the country.
New York State law allows Governor Kathy Hochul to fire Mayor Adams, but she has yet to reach that decision. Stewart-Cousins said “I would certainly support the governor looking at her options seriously.
When Hochul’s Lt. Gov. Delgado became the first hi profile democrats to call for Adams to resign last week, it raised the pressure on Hochul to do something.
A removal of a NY public official by a Governor hasn’t been done since 1974, when then Governor Malcolm Wilson, removed a sheriff. Removal proceedings for Adams would begin by Hochul presenting him with his accusations and Adams having the right to defend himself in public.
The calls for Adams to resign will certainly increase over the next several days and are reminiscent of the calls for former Governor Andrew Cuomo to resign in 2021. The irony today is that Cuomo is the most likely Democrat to suceed Adams as NYC Mayor.
While Adams may have his indictment from last year dropped by the DOJ, many believe that other criminal charges will be filed against him, either from the Feds, or from NYS Attorney General Letitia James or Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg.
Two of the mayor’s associates have pleaded guilty to charges related to their political work for Adams.
