Eric Adams vows to move forward from ‘cruel episode’ as opponents say he’s Trump’s pawn

In his first public remarks since the Department of Justice moved to dismiss his public corruption case Monday night, New York City Mayor Eric Adams declared victory on Tuesday, casting the past 15 months as a humbling and trying experience, then shifted into reelection mode.  

“I thank the Justice Department for its honesty. Now you can put this cruel episode behind us and focus entirely on the future of our city,” Adams said in a six-minute livestreamed speech. “Despite the fact that I’m no longer facing legal questions, I also understand that many New Yorkers will still question my character, and I know that I must continue to regain your trust.”

In what then sounded like a campaign speech, Adams said that his administration has delivered for working-class New Yorkers on driving down crime and boosting jobs – accomplishments he alleged have been covered up by “shocking headlines full of rumors and accusations,” and “innuendos and insinuations.”

The address was not open to the press, so the mayor, who has always maintained his innocence, has so far avoided questions about how the directive from Trump’s Justice Department came about and how it will impact his reelection plans.

In the highly unusual directive to U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon, Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove contended that the five-count corruption indictment was brought forward too close to the city’s June primary election and that it had adversely impacted Adams’ ability to devote his full attention and resources to addressing illegal immigration. The order to dismiss Adams’ charges was not based on the strength of evidence in the case, according to Bove. While he wrote that Sassoon should dismiss the charges “as soon as practicable," it also specifically states that the action should be done without prejudice, meaning the office could reopen the case in the future. That means Adams’ claim that he is “no longer facing legal questions,” as he stated on Tuesday is not totally accurate.

That was a point of concern for both New York City Comptroller Brad Lander and State Sen. Zellnor Myrie, both of whom are running for mayor, as they held separate press conferences near City Hall Tuesday morning. Both expressed concerns that Adams will be beholden to Trump in the months to come. 

Lander reiterated his call for Adams to resign and said the dismissal without prejudice “tethers” the mayor to Trump and has created an “alliance” between them.

“There ought to be a trial where New Yorkers could have affirmed whether their mayor sold them out. It's a miscarriage of justice,” Lander said. “It allows rank corruption to stand without charge, even when prosecutors have put together a very clear case about it.”

Myrie also voiced deep disappointment with the Justice Department’s order to drop Adams’ corruption charges and even sent a letter to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Dale Ho urging him to reject the DOJ’s dismissal of the mayor’s corruption charges and appoint a special prosecutor to continue the case.

Myrie said the action is “wholly devoid of facts, wholly devoid of the law.” “The charges and the evidence are up to the prosecutor and the court to determine. We are not even getting to that point of the case,” he said.

Speaking at an unrelated press conference in Manhattan, Gov. Kathy Hochul said she’s committed to working with Adams, and she refused to speculate about the motives behind the Justice Department’s letter. Hochul, who theoretically has the authority to remove the mayor, referenced her directives last year to Adams to shed his most ethically challenged aides. 

“I'm going to continue doing what I've done since September, when all this started. I worked with the mayor to make sure that he brought in a different team to manage the operations of government,” Hochul told reporters at an unrelated press conference in Manhattan on Tuesday. “There is a new police commissioner. I’ve spent time with her, I have confidence in her. Crime is going down on the subways. In particular, I want to make sure that we have the resources to get the housing plan over the finish line.”

Asked whether she had any concerns that Adams is ill-equipped to stand up to the president – like Myrie and Lander charged – Hochul said she’s not dealing in hypotheticals. 

“I will do plenty of standing up to that administration and willingly calling out Republicans who are not speaking out,” Hochul said. “The mayor needs to stay focused on public safety in the city, making sure our streets are safe, making sure our streets are clean, and making sure that people feel confident this city is continuing to head in the right direction.”

Asked if she has confidence in the mayor, Hochul demurred. “I will continue working with him to make sure we focus on our mutual priorities,” she said.