A day following numerous federal raids, the political defense of Adams starts to unfold
Opponents of the mayor of New York City are considering their next moves.
TroibNews 
NEW YORK — Supporters of Mayor Eric Adams were gearing up for a significant campaign kickoff next weekend at Gracie Mansion, the mayor's official residence.
However, on Friday, those who had volunteered for his previous campaign received an email notifying them of a change: “Apologies for the inconvenience but Saturday, September 14th’s event has been POSTPONED.”
This abrupt alteration follows the news that federal agents executed search warrants on some of Adams' top appointees, including his first deputy mayor, Sheena Wright, and NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban.
According to NBC New York, the FBI is investigating two new separate cases involving individuals attempting to benefit financially from government connections, bringing the total number of federal investigations linked to Adams’ inner circle to at least four. This development poses a significant threat to Adams’ reelection prospects at a time when his political standing is already precarious.
In response, potential mayoral candidates, including Adams himself, are strategizing how best to handle the situation.
Adams' team is clearly aware of the implications of these investigations. “It’s clear as day you don’t want what happened [Thursday] to happen when you’re heading into reelection,” an individual close to his political operation, who requested anonymity, shared with PMG.
Adams has been attempting to downplay the situation, asserting that it’s business as usual at City Hall. “As a former law enforcement person, the goal is to follow the law,” Adams told reporters Thursday. “Whatever information that’s needed, we’re going to turn it over, and I’m going to continue to be the mayor of the City of New York, the greatest city on the globe.”
The necessity for him to emphasize his ongoing role as mayor highlights a stark decline from the optimism surrounding his 2021 election. A moderate Democrat and former police captain, Adams positioned himself as the “Biden of Brooklyn,” with many viewing him as a promising figure for the party's future.
Now, two and a half years into his tenure, and following his critiques of President Biden's response to the migrant crisis, Adams finds himself reconsidering whether to accuse Biden's Justice Department of politically motivated investigations.
Since the emergence of the initial federal investigation into Turkish influence in November, Adams’ supporters have exercised caution, avoiding overt claims of political targeting — which may also involve race — and allowing others to voice such concerns.
On Friday, City Hall followed this approach by directing inquiries to community leader Bishop Mitchell Taylor in Queens. “Because he’s a Black man, he’s being berated. This is racially infused,” Taylor remarked to PMG. “Have you ever seen this before? I haven’t.”
As the city’s second Black mayor, Adams faces a unique dynamic, particularly with U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams, also Black, leading the investigation.
In view of this, Taylor suggested that federal prosecutors clarify the purpose of their investigations. “There’s instruments being hit, cymbals and drums but you’re not producing a chorus,” he noted. “The public deserves to know what we’re talking about, instead of running around here, snatching devices and not talking about it.”
Gov. David Paterson, a consistent defender of the mayor, raised the issue of whether the investigations could be seen as political retaliation from the Justice Department due to Adams' criticisms of the administration's migrant policy. He presented his theory without evidence during an interview on WABC radio, and Adams did not refute it. “I would hope that none of what’s taking place is attributed to me fighting on behalf of the city,” Adams stated. “That’s what I was elected to do.”
Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, a reliable ally who leads the Brooklyn Democratic Party, echoed concerns raised by constituents, stating a recent inquiry had been posed to her: “Why is the federal government harassing these Black folks?”
In her statement to PMG, Bichotte Hermelyn aligned with Adams, asserting that voters were primarily focused on his accomplishments, viewing the situation merely as an inquiry where federal investigators are being thorough.
Nonetheless, Adams faces mounting criticism from multiple political factions due to the ongoing probes.
Progressive activists from New York Communities for Change are demanding his resignation, while the conservative New York Post’s editorial board is calling for Police Commissioner Edward Caban's resignation. This point has drawn agreement from both Democratic City Council Members Lincoln Restler, a progressive, and Bob Holden, a conservative.
With Adams seeking reelection in 2025, some forthcoming candidates have begun to ramp up their criticisms. “If he’s not distracted by all this, he’s delusional, and if this is what his focus looks like, he needs new lenses,” former City Comptroller Scott Stringer stated on Friday, alluding to one of Adams' political catchphrases about remaining focused.
Comptroller Brad Lander, another challenger, emphasized a comparable sentiment in a Thursday post on X. “Amidst an unending stream of stories about the Adams Administration being raided and investigated by federal law enforcement,” he wrote, “it is clear that New Yorkers are not getting the steady leadership we deserve.”
Both Bichotte Hermelyn and Taylor provided critiques of Adams' challengers for their rush to conclusions regarding the investigations.
Meanwhile, the most prominent Black challenger to Adams, state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, adopted a more restrained tactic, refraining from criticizing the mayor directly. “You’ve probably seen the headlines today and have questions about what’s happening in City Hall,” Myrie wrote in a fundraising email. However, rather than focusing on those headlines, he highlighted his commitment to implementing free afterschool programs for students.
This strategy could prove politically advantageous, especially with ranked-choice voting set to be in effect for next year’s Democratic primary. Myrie shares the same state Senate district in Central Brooklyn that Adams once represented, and his effort to avoid antagonizing Adams' base could broaden his appeal — creating a pathway to success if he secures sufficient first or second choice votes.
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, rumored to be considering a run should Adams face significant political fallout, would also need to garner support from Black voters who have been loyal to Adams. Cuomo has not publicly commented on the recent events and is unlikely to criticize Adams aggressively, given his own claims of political prosecution in relation to sexual harassment investigations.
Currently, Adams’ position remains buoyed by the limited details shared by law enforcement. A political consultant who opposed Adams in 2021, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss political dynamics, indicated that if the election were held tomorrow, Adams would likely prevail since his opponents have yet to establish a compelling case. “He could also use the narrative: I’m a Black man, they’re coming after me — the powers that be,” the consultant stated. “This has been going on a long time, I’m innocent, I haven’t been accused of anything.”
Emily Ngo contributed to this report.
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
However, on Friday, those who had volunteered for his previous campaign received an email notifying them of a change: “Apologies for the inconvenience but Saturday, September 14th’s event has been POSTPONED.”
This abrupt alteration follows the news that federal agents executed search warrants on some of Adams' top appointees, including his first deputy mayor, Sheena Wright, and NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban.
According to NBC New York, the FBI is investigating two new separate cases involving individuals attempting to benefit financially from government connections, bringing the total number of federal investigations linked to Adams’ inner circle to at least four. This development poses a significant threat to Adams’ reelection prospects at a time when his political standing is already precarious.
In response, potential mayoral candidates, including Adams himself, are strategizing how best to handle the situation.
Adams' team is clearly aware of the implications of these investigations. “It’s clear as day you don’t want what happened [Thursday] to happen when you’re heading into reelection,” an individual close to his political operation, who requested anonymity, shared with PMG.
Adams has been attempting to downplay the situation, asserting that it’s business as usual at City Hall. “As a former law enforcement person, the goal is to follow the law,” Adams told reporters Thursday. “Whatever information that’s needed, we’re going to turn it over, and I’m going to continue to be the mayor of the City of New York, the greatest city on the globe.”
The necessity for him to emphasize his ongoing role as mayor highlights a stark decline from the optimism surrounding his 2021 election. A moderate Democrat and former police captain, Adams positioned himself as the “Biden of Brooklyn,” with many viewing him as a promising figure for the party's future.
Now, two and a half years into his tenure, and following his critiques of President Biden's response to the migrant crisis, Adams finds himself reconsidering whether to accuse Biden's Justice Department of politically motivated investigations.
Since the emergence of the initial federal investigation into Turkish influence in November, Adams’ supporters have exercised caution, avoiding overt claims of political targeting — which may also involve race — and allowing others to voice such concerns.
On Friday, City Hall followed this approach by directing inquiries to community leader Bishop Mitchell Taylor in Queens. “Because he’s a Black man, he’s being berated. This is racially infused,” Taylor remarked to PMG. “Have you ever seen this before? I haven’t.”
As the city’s second Black mayor, Adams faces a unique dynamic, particularly with U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams, also Black, leading the investigation.
In view of this, Taylor suggested that federal prosecutors clarify the purpose of their investigations. “There’s instruments being hit, cymbals and drums but you’re not producing a chorus,” he noted. “The public deserves to know what we’re talking about, instead of running around here, snatching devices and not talking about it.”
Gov. David Paterson, a consistent defender of the mayor, raised the issue of whether the investigations could be seen as political retaliation from the Justice Department due to Adams' criticisms of the administration's migrant policy. He presented his theory without evidence during an interview on WABC radio, and Adams did not refute it. “I would hope that none of what’s taking place is attributed to me fighting on behalf of the city,” Adams stated. “That’s what I was elected to do.”
Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, a reliable ally who leads the Brooklyn Democratic Party, echoed concerns raised by constituents, stating a recent inquiry had been posed to her: “Why is the federal government harassing these Black folks?”
In her statement to PMG, Bichotte Hermelyn aligned with Adams, asserting that voters were primarily focused on his accomplishments, viewing the situation merely as an inquiry where federal investigators are being thorough.
Nonetheless, Adams faces mounting criticism from multiple political factions due to the ongoing probes.
Progressive activists from New York Communities for Change are demanding his resignation, while the conservative New York Post’s editorial board is calling for Police Commissioner Edward Caban's resignation. This point has drawn agreement from both Democratic City Council Members Lincoln Restler, a progressive, and Bob Holden, a conservative.
With Adams seeking reelection in 2025, some forthcoming candidates have begun to ramp up their criticisms. “If he’s not distracted by all this, he’s delusional, and if this is what his focus looks like, he needs new lenses,” former City Comptroller Scott Stringer stated on Friday, alluding to one of Adams' political catchphrases about remaining focused.
Comptroller Brad Lander, another challenger, emphasized a comparable sentiment in a Thursday post on X. “Amidst an unending stream of stories about the Adams Administration being raided and investigated by federal law enforcement,” he wrote, “it is clear that New Yorkers are not getting the steady leadership we deserve.”
Both Bichotte Hermelyn and Taylor provided critiques of Adams' challengers for their rush to conclusions regarding the investigations.
Meanwhile, the most prominent Black challenger to Adams, state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, adopted a more restrained tactic, refraining from criticizing the mayor directly. “You’ve probably seen the headlines today and have questions about what’s happening in City Hall,” Myrie wrote in a fundraising email. However, rather than focusing on those headlines, he highlighted his commitment to implementing free afterschool programs for students.
This strategy could prove politically advantageous, especially with ranked-choice voting set to be in effect for next year’s Democratic primary. Myrie shares the same state Senate district in Central Brooklyn that Adams once represented, and his effort to avoid antagonizing Adams' base could broaden his appeal — creating a pathway to success if he secures sufficient first or second choice votes.
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, rumored to be considering a run should Adams face significant political fallout, would also need to garner support from Black voters who have been loyal to Adams. Cuomo has not publicly commented on the recent events and is unlikely to criticize Adams aggressively, given his own claims of political prosecution in relation to sexual harassment investigations.
Currently, Adams’ position remains buoyed by the limited details shared by law enforcement. A political consultant who opposed Adams in 2021, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss political dynamics, indicated that if the election were held tomorrow, Adams would likely prevail since his opponents have yet to establish a compelling case. “He could also use the narrative: I’m a Black man, they’re coming after me — the powers that be,” the consultant stated. “This has been going on a long time, I’m innocent, I haven’t been accused of anything.”
Emily Ngo contributed to this report.
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
