Meet the (not yet convened) inability committee that could decide Eric Adams’ fate

As Mayor Eric Adams tumbles into deep uncertainty about his political future, other city and state leaders have levers they could pull to remove Adams from office. 

But neither of two levers laid out in state and city law are without political and legal challenges, and both come with questions about setting precedent for removing an official outside of an election. In light of those concerns, neither Gov. Kathy Hochul nor any other officials who could wield removal powers are approaching those levers lightly. 

Hochul convened leaders in Manhattan on Tuesday to discuss the potential of using her power to remove Adams from office. Hochul’s serious consideration of that possibility follows an allegation from the former U.S. attorney in Manhattan that Adams’ legal team proposed cutting a deal to drop the corruption charges against him in exchange for working with the Trump administration on immigration enforcement priorities. Adams has maintained his innocence on those charges, and denied a quid pro quo with the Trump Justice Department. 

Hochul’s power to remove the mayor, laid out in city and state law, is explicit, if undetailed and untested. 

But a second option that could force Adams to be removed from office has also emerged as a possibility – though still one untested on this level. A little-known lever outlined in the city charter is the committee on mayoral inability, a panel of five leaders in city government that could be convened to vote to determine if the mayor is temporarily or permanently unable to “discharge the powers and duties of the office of mayor.” Four out of the five members would need to agree.

Hochul’s meetings on Tuesday included at least three of the would-be committee’s members – Comptroller Brad Lander, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards.

The inability committee provision was added to the city charter after Mayor Ed Koch suffered a stroke in the late 1980s, and is seen by some as intended to address physical inability or illness. Lander, however, disagrees that it’s limited to physical inability.

Here’s who would serve on the committee and what they’ve said about convening it.

Comptroller Brad Lander

The city charter states that the New York City comptroller is a member of the inability committee. Lander is in a unique position, as he is running against Adams for mayor in the June Democratic primary.

What he’s said: Lander has called on Adams to resign, and said this week that he would seek to convene the inability committee if Adams does not present a contingency plan following the resignation of four of his top deputy mayors by Friday. Lander does not think that the committee is limited to dealing with questions of physical ability. “I believe that ability or inability to discharge the powers and duties of the office goes beyond physical infirmity,” he said.

City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams

The City Council speaker also gets a place on the inability committee, which is fitting as a two-thirds majority of the full City Council would be called upon to vote in a few instances to affirm the committee’s decision, including if they were to determine permanent inability.

What she’s said: Speaker Adams has also called on Mayor Adams (no relation) to resign. But Speaker Adams has previously stated that she believes that the committee applies to physical ability, and reaffirmed that view on Tuesday, calling the body “inapplicable” to the current situation. “This mayor, as Donovan said this morning, is still very much breathing, thank God, mobile, thank God,” she told reporters at City Hall. “So that committee does not apply to this situation.”

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards

The longest-serving borough president in the city also gets a spot on the committee. In this case, that’s Queens Borough President Richards.

What he’s said: In a statement following his meeting with Hochul on Tuesday, Richards avoided weighing in on the potential use of the inability committee. “The powers of her office are mighty and come with immense responsibility, but I have full faith and confidence that she will continue to put the interests of our city and state first in the days ahead,” he said in the statement, and urged Adams to consider whether his administration can deliver a “laser-focused government they can trust.”

Corporation Counsel Muriel Goode-Trufant

The city’s corporation counsel and head of the Law Department would sit on the committee – one of two officials seen as mayoral picks. Muriel Goode-Trufant, a veteran of the law department, was appointed corporation counsel last year following Adams’ failed attempt to appoint Randy Mastro to the role. 

What she’s said: The Law Department declined to comment.

Unknown deputy mayor

If a committee is convened, Adams would be able to directly appoint one of his deputy mayors to serve on the committee. This would be an opportunity for Adams to look for an ally in his administration, though his ranks of deputies are thinning.