Leading state Democrat urges Adams to step down while party chiefs gather for caucus weekend
As thousands of Democrats convene in Albany for their annual convention, pressure is building on Gov. Kathy Hochul to dismiss Adams from his position.
TroibNews 
ALBANY, New York — Mayor Eric Adams' absence from the annual caucus weekend in Albany didn't stop discussions about his political future, as pressure mounted from Democrats for him to resign. His opponents are not only urging him to step down but also suggesting that Gov. Kathy Hochul consider removing him if he fails to do so.
Calls for Adams’ resignation came from two prominent Democrats: state Sen. Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado.
“I just really feel there’s a lot of work that we need to get done and it may be time for him to step aside and deal with the things he’s facing,” Stewart-Cousins shared with PMG. The New York Post first reported that the Senate leader indicated Hochul should weigh the possibility of removing Adams if he doesn’t resign.
This stance is significant, especially given Stewart-Cousins’ cool rapport with Adams, and the fact that she is a prominent Black Democrat, mirroring the mayor's identity.
Delgado voiced his own concerns about Adams on Thursday, prompting a skirmish between him and Hochul. An aide to the governor clarified that the lieutenant governor does not speak on her behalf.
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, who also expresses dissatisfaction with Adams, refrained from outright calls for resignation but still offered criticism.
“It’s never been in my history to suggest people should resign but this situation is very serious,” said the Democratic conference leader. “I don't like the idea that the city could possibly be held hostage, according to what we read, so it’s a serious situation.”
Heastie was addressing reports that President Donald Trump's Justice Department had ordered corruption charges against the mayor to be dropped, allegedly in exchange for Adams' cooperation regarding the administration's deportation agenda.
Even Adams' allies in Albany recognize the severity of the circumstances.
“I'm not calling for the mayor to step down, but, you know, certainly I'm concerned, and we'll be monitoring how things move going forward,” stated Brooklyn state Sen. Kevin Parker.
Parker expressed relief over the dropping of the charges when he spoke with PMG. “The circumstances changed,” he noted, acknowledging the potential repercussions of ICE raids on his district, which is home to many Caribbean immigrants.
Democratic Assemblymember Eddie Gibbs, a long-time supporter and friend of Adams, mentioned he is eager to hear directly from the mayor regarding his next steps.
“I want to give him that opportunity as a good friend,” Gibbs commented. “But things are happening, so he needs to say something soon, because we all left in limbo. We love him, but we don't know what to say or do because we don't know what he's saying or doing.”
He added, “When you got good friends who are behind you, you should give them a heads up... He has to be transparent to the people who support him. We need to know. If not, then we start going other places.”
The discussion surrounding Adams’ political future became a focal point during the annual political and legislation conference in Albany, attended by more than 8,500 political figures. The Democratic mayoral primary, which includes three state lawmakers, is set for June 24. Should he lose, Adams would become the city’s second Black mayor to serve only a single term.
Danielle Sassoon, the prosecutor overseeing his case, revealed in a pointed resignation letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi that Trump's appointees were interfering with the case in return for Adams' cooperation in deporting undocumented migrants.
“Rather than be rewarded, Adams' advocacy should be called out for what it is: an improper offer of immigration enforcement assistance in exchange for a dismissal of his case,” Sassoon asserted.
She also indicated that she was preparing a superseding indictment for alleged obstruction, claiming Adams had destroyed evidence and instructed others to do the same, along with providing false information to the FBI.
Following his September indictment, Adams has maintained his innocence, and his attorney Alex Spiro characterized Sassoon’s allegation of a quid pro quo as “a total lie.”
“We offered nothing and the department asked nothing of us,” Spiro stated, noting the case’s implications for national security and immigration enforcement. He dismissed the claim of a pending obstruction charge as “false.”
Upon accepting Sassoon’s resignation, Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove described her assertion about a quid pro quo regarding Adams’ cooperation as “false.”
Adams later appeared on Fox & Friends alongside Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, who threatened to escalate actions if Adams does not provide the expected cooperation.
“If he doesn’t come through, I’ll be back in New York City, and we won’t be sitting on the couch,” Homan warned, referencing Adams’ commitment to assist with immigration enforcement.
The unfolding situation has precipitated a series of resignations within the Justice Department and fueled suspicions among Democrats that the mayor may be compromised, especially considering that Trump could revive the charges against him.
Hours before the charges were dropped and about a week after Adams' attorney met with DOJ officials, the mayor reportedly directed his top commissioners to avoid interfering with Trump’s immigration personnel and to steer clear of criticizing the president, according to local news outlet THE CITY.
Under state law and the City Charter, the governor holds the authority to remove the mayor and other local officials at her discretion.
Hochul's prior hesitance about ousting the mayor has shifted significantly in recent days.
“This just happened; I need some time to process this and figure out the right approach,” she remarked on MSNBC, leaving open the possibility for action. Just four days earlier, she had likened the removal of a mayor to “overturning an election,” stating it “does not feel like something that’s very democratic.”
While Adams skipped the 54th Annual Legislative Caucus Weekend organized by the NYS Association of Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislators, his deputy mayors were in attendance.
“The mayor has been clear, he's not stepping down, he's stepping up,” stated Adams spokesperson Kayla Mamelak Altus. “As he said yesterday, we must put this difficult episode behind us so that trust can be restored, New York can move forward, and we can continue delivering for the people of this city.”
James del Carmen for TROIB News
Calls for Adams’ resignation came from two prominent Democrats: state Sen. Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado.
“I just really feel there’s a lot of work that we need to get done and it may be time for him to step aside and deal with the things he’s facing,” Stewart-Cousins shared with PMG. The New York Post first reported that the Senate leader indicated Hochul should weigh the possibility of removing Adams if he doesn’t resign.
This stance is significant, especially given Stewart-Cousins’ cool rapport with Adams, and the fact that she is a prominent Black Democrat, mirroring the mayor's identity.
Delgado voiced his own concerns about Adams on Thursday, prompting a skirmish between him and Hochul. An aide to the governor clarified that the lieutenant governor does not speak on her behalf.
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, who also expresses dissatisfaction with Adams, refrained from outright calls for resignation but still offered criticism.
“It’s never been in my history to suggest people should resign but this situation is very serious,” said the Democratic conference leader. “I don't like the idea that the city could possibly be held hostage, according to what we read, so it’s a serious situation.”
Heastie was addressing reports that President Donald Trump's Justice Department had ordered corruption charges against the mayor to be dropped, allegedly in exchange for Adams' cooperation regarding the administration's deportation agenda.
Even Adams' allies in Albany recognize the severity of the circumstances.
“I'm not calling for the mayor to step down, but, you know, certainly I'm concerned, and we'll be monitoring how things move going forward,” stated Brooklyn state Sen. Kevin Parker.
Parker expressed relief over the dropping of the charges when he spoke with PMG. “The circumstances changed,” he noted, acknowledging the potential repercussions of ICE raids on his district, which is home to many Caribbean immigrants.
Democratic Assemblymember Eddie Gibbs, a long-time supporter and friend of Adams, mentioned he is eager to hear directly from the mayor regarding his next steps.
“I want to give him that opportunity as a good friend,” Gibbs commented. “But things are happening, so he needs to say something soon, because we all left in limbo. We love him, but we don't know what to say or do because we don't know what he's saying or doing.”
He added, “When you got good friends who are behind you, you should give them a heads up... He has to be transparent to the people who support him. We need to know. If not, then we start going other places.”
The discussion surrounding Adams’ political future became a focal point during the annual political and legislation conference in Albany, attended by more than 8,500 political figures. The Democratic mayoral primary, which includes three state lawmakers, is set for June 24. Should he lose, Adams would become the city’s second Black mayor to serve only a single term.
Danielle Sassoon, the prosecutor overseeing his case, revealed in a pointed resignation letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi that Trump's appointees were interfering with the case in return for Adams' cooperation in deporting undocumented migrants.
“Rather than be rewarded, Adams' advocacy should be called out for what it is: an improper offer of immigration enforcement assistance in exchange for a dismissal of his case,” Sassoon asserted.
She also indicated that she was preparing a superseding indictment for alleged obstruction, claiming Adams had destroyed evidence and instructed others to do the same, along with providing false information to the FBI.
Following his September indictment, Adams has maintained his innocence, and his attorney Alex Spiro characterized Sassoon’s allegation of a quid pro quo as “a total lie.”
“We offered nothing and the department asked nothing of us,” Spiro stated, noting the case’s implications for national security and immigration enforcement. He dismissed the claim of a pending obstruction charge as “false.”
Upon accepting Sassoon’s resignation, Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove described her assertion about a quid pro quo regarding Adams’ cooperation as “false.”
Adams later appeared on Fox & Friends alongside Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, who threatened to escalate actions if Adams does not provide the expected cooperation.
“If he doesn’t come through, I’ll be back in New York City, and we won’t be sitting on the couch,” Homan warned, referencing Adams’ commitment to assist with immigration enforcement.
The unfolding situation has precipitated a series of resignations within the Justice Department and fueled suspicions among Democrats that the mayor may be compromised, especially considering that Trump could revive the charges against him.
Hours before the charges were dropped and about a week after Adams' attorney met with DOJ officials, the mayor reportedly directed his top commissioners to avoid interfering with Trump’s immigration personnel and to steer clear of criticizing the president, according to local news outlet THE CITY.
Under state law and the City Charter, the governor holds the authority to remove the mayor and other local officials at her discretion.
Hochul's prior hesitance about ousting the mayor has shifted significantly in recent days.
“This just happened; I need some time to process this and figure out the right approach,” she remarked on MSNBC, leaving open the possibility for action. Just four days earlier, she had likened the removal of a mayor to “overturning an election,” stating it “does not feel like something that’s very democratic.”
While Adams skipped the 54th Annual Legislative Caucus Weekend organized by the NYS Association of Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislators, his deputy mayors were in attendance.
“The mayor has been clear, he's not stepping down, he's stepping up,” stated Adams spokesperson Kayla Mamelak Altus. “As he said yesterday, we must put this difficult episode behind us so that trust can be restored, New York can move forward, and we can continue delivering for the people of this city.”
James del Carmen for TROIB News
