FBI agents were seen searching New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ home a day after his indictment was announced.
Adams is the first sitting mayor in the city’s history to face criminal charges. His indictment has not been unsealed yet, but it follows a federal corruption investigation.
“Federal agents appeared this morning at Gracie Mansion in an effort to create a spectacle (again) and take Mayor Adams phone (again),” Adams’ lawyer, Alex Spiro, said in a statement.
Adams resisted calls to resign and asked for “prayers and patience” in a video statement.
“I always knew that If I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target—and a target I became,” Adams said. “If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit.”
FBI officials were seen searching the home of New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday. One day earlier, it was announced that Adams had been indicted following a federal corruption investigation.
Katie Godowski/MediaPunch /IPX and AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura
Adams was issued a federal subpoena in July to obtain information from him, his campaign and City Hall. Eight months earlier, the FBI confiscated his phones and iPad.
Investigators also seized the phones of the police commissioner, schools chancellor, two deputy mayors and a senior adviser overseeing migrant shelter contracts last month.
Police Commissioner Edward Caban resigned on September 12 “for the good of this city” and the New York City Police Department.
New York City schools chancellor David Banks announced his retirement on Tuesday. The retirement will take effect by the end of the year.
One day earlier, the city’s health commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan resigned for personal and family reasons.
Several politicians have called for Adams to resign, including New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
“I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X. “The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening gov function. Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration. For the good of the city, he should resign.”
Andrew Yang, who ran against Adams in 2021, told CNN Adams “should resign in order to give a new leader a chance to right the ship and get the city back to a place where it can hire and retain high-quality leaders to try and move the city forward.”
If Adams were to resign, a special election would be held and Jumaane Williams, the city’s public advocate, would serve as acting mayor in the interim.
Adams was elected to the mayor’s office in 2021. He succeeded Bill de Blasio, who was ineligible to run due to term limitations.
De Blasio told CNN he felt “shock and concern for our city,” but added that “innocent until proven guilty is the American way.”
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