Democratic New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who had been outspoken against the Biden-Harris administration's lax immigration policies, was criminally indicted last month on federal bribery and corruption charges and has since faced growing demands from fellow Democratic officials to resign from his office.

Adams, who has defiantly refused to heed those calls, has the support of at least one prominent former Democratic leader in the state, former Gov. David Paterson, who said it was "outrageous" for others to demand Adams step aside over mere allegations of wrongdoing, according to The Hill.

The former governor also praised his current successor, Gov. Kathy Hochul, for not joining the chorus of voices demanding resignation and instead allowing the mayor the opportunity to "clean house" and let the process play out.

Criminally indicted

In late-September, the Justice Department announced that Mayor Adams had been indicted on five federal criminal counts, including conspiracy, wire fraud, soliciting campaign contributions from foreign nationals, and accepting bribes -- which collectively could result in 45 years behind bars if convicted on all charges.

Adams and other associates are alleged to have solicited and received illegal campaign contributions from foreign nationals, including a top Turkish official, as well as other individuals and businesses, and of soliciting and receiving various bribes -- including free or steeply discounted travel, lodging, meals, and entertainment -- in exchange for using his authority to provide favors.

The mayor has pleaded not guilty and insisted that he's done nothing wrong, but according to Axios has faced mounting calls to immediately resign from a growing chorus of fellow Democratic officials in the Empire State at the local, state, and federal levels.

Paterson says resignation demands are "really outrageous"

Not joining the calls for Mayor Adams to resign is former Democratic Gov. Paterson, who spoke with prominent NYC AM radio host John Catsimatidis on Sunday and defended the embattled mayor's decision to remain in office at this point in the developing situation, per The Hill.

"I think it’s really outrageous," Paterson said of the resignation demands. "Some of these people who have been … telling the mayor he needs to leave. He needs to leave and he hasn’t even had a trial? Who are these people? They certainly shouldn’t be living in America."

Of his current successor, the former governor said, "It’s clear that Governor Hochul has told the mayor he’s got to clean house, meaning get anybody who is under suspicion or under investigation out of his office."

That was the "most dynamic demonstration of leadership" he's observed of her time in office, and further noted, "What’s clear is that Gov. Hochul, who could have just stepped aside and let the process go on, has decided to be a participant. She is now monitoring everything that’s going on. This surprises me considerably."

"It is the most dynamic demonstration of leadership that the governor has taken in her time," Paterson said and added that "my hat is off to her today for allowing herself to use the public officers’ law and the New York City Charter to involve herself in monitoring how the city’s being run these days."

Adams not resigning ... but many of his top officials are

Spectrum News reported last week that Mayor Adams has been defiant in the face of the demands for his resignation and insistent that succumbing to those demands would send a "wrong message" to his fellow New Yorkers.

"Because if I send the wrong message to New Yorkers, that tough times mean you disappear or you abdicate your responsibilities, that's the wrong message," he told reporters. "I’ve done nothing wrong. Time will prove that and people will look back at this moment and say, 'We are glad we gave this mayor the opportunity to do the work he’s doing.'"

Unfortunately for Adams, his message of resilience under pressure has not resonated with others in his mayoral administration, as WNBC reported that at least a half dozen top officials in the city, including his top deputy mayor, Sheena Wright, have all resigned or been fired following the indictment and amid threat of possible additional charges and more indictments linked to multiple ongoing investigations.