Following the historic indictment of New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday night, calls for him to resign are growing.
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez led the charge, calling for his resignation “for the good of the city” before the charges were even announced.
AOC pointed to the wide-ranging corruption investigation, which has seen several top New York officials resign in recent weeks, saying they pose “a threat to the government’s function.”
“Continuing investigations make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified board,” she said. “(I) do not see how Mayor Adams can continue to govern New York City.”
That sentiment was also shared by Scott Stringer, the former New York supervisor who is running against Adams in the Democratic primary for mayor next year.
“The chances that the government will move forward with full force after this action are zero,” Stringer said, adding that Adams’ resignation would be “in the best interest of the city.”
‘What we are left with is a neglected municipal government.’
Another leading opponent of Adams, current New York Supervisor Brad Lander, said Adams “has a right to due process and the presumption of innocence” but argued that it would be impossible to fight the charges in order to govern the Big Apple.
“It is clear that defending himself against serious federal charges will take a significant amount of time and attention away from the time it takes to run this great city,” he said.
“The most appropriate path forward is for him to step down so that New York City can regain the full focus that her leadership requires.”