AOC demands Eric Adams' resignation amid unsealing of federal indictment
In a stunning legal and political development, a federal indictment was unsealed Thursday against New York City Mayor Eric Adams on campaign finance and bribery charges.
Just one day before details of the allegations were made public, "Squad" member Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called on Adams to resign his position amid ongoing FBI probes of the mayor and several other members of his administration as the New York Post reports.
AOC lets loose
Seemingly in response to a recent spate of resignations among high-ranking officials in the Adams administration, Ocasio-Cortez joined a number of left-wing figures in the Big Apple and went public with her belief that the mayor should be the next to leave.
Taking to X to declare her stance, AOC began, “Eric Adams leads with corruption and mismanagement.”
She did not stop there, adding, “NY deserves better. It's time for him to resign.”
If Adams were to follow the congresswoman's suggestion, he would join former NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, Health Commissioner Aswin Vasan, public schools Chancellor David Banks, and chief counsel Lisa Zornberg in announcing immediate or planned departures.
Adams, for his part, attempted to downplay the developments as “normal turnaround” and administrative “wear and tear” rather than evidence of the sort of concerns leveled by Ocasio-Cortez.
Adams' indictment adds fuel to fire
The more than 50-page indictment of Adams was unsealed on Thursday, and it included allegations regarding illegal campaign donations through straw donors and claims of bribery designed to secure favors from the mayor and his administration, as CBS News noted.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, offered a detailed outline the government's case against Adams during a press conference.
“Mayor Adams engaged in a long-running conspiracy in which he solicited and knowingly accepted illegal campaign contributions from foreign donors and corporations,” Williams stated.
He continued, “As we alleged, Mayor Adams took these donations, even though he knew they were illegal, and even though he knew these contributions were attempts by a Turkish governmental official and Turkish businessmen to buy influence with him.”
According to Williams, over $100,000 in business class international flights, high-end hotel accommodations, and other perks were sought and accepted by the mayor, who did not comply with public reporting requirements regarding their receipt, going so far as to create “fake paper trails” to conceal the fact.
Mayor remains defiant
In apparent acknowledgment of his impending indictment, Adams issued a video statement on Wednesday evening in which he denied wrongdoing and pledged to remain in office during what he said would be his battle to clear his name, as NBC New York reported.
“Now, if I am charged, many may say I should resign because I cannot manage the city while fighting the case. I can also understand how everyday New Yorkers would be concerned that I cannot do my job while I face accusations,” Adams said before adding, “[m]ake no mistake: you elected me to lead this city – and lead it I will,” offering words that surely infuriated AOC and the progressive faction she represents.