New York City Mayor Eric Adams resumed his participation in News 12’s call-in program this week, for the first time since he was indicted in September and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, bribery, and receiving campaign contributions from foreign nationals.
Adams appeared on the television show with News 12 Anchor Amanda Bossard, who moderated the 30-minute question and answer session known as “Ask the Mayor.”
When asked about the charges, Adams replied that he is looking forward to the opportunity to answer the inquiries that he’s facing.
“I’ve lived my life as a member of the law enforcement community, and I’ve always held myself to high standards,” he said. “I must continue to do what I have done when this investigation first came to light—I must continue to run the city. And that’s what we’re doing.”
The indictment accuses Adams of not only accepting but seeking illegal campaign contributions to his mayoral campaign from foreign nationals, who reportedly exploited their relationship with him.
As his influence grew after becoming mayor on Jan. 1, 2022, Adams allegedly allowed favorable treatment to the foreign nationals in exchange for alleged illicit benefits he received.
“I want New Yorkers to know this is hurtful for me,” Adams said of the investigation. “It hurts a lot but I am dedicated and committed to carrying out the job I was elected to do, just like many of you are doing every day. Give me an opportunity and I’m sure I’m going to be cleared of what is taking place right now.”
Adams has pleaded not guilty to the bribery charges against him, and his lawyers filed motions to dismiss them and requested an inquiry into whether prosecutors improperly leaked information to reporters about the investigation.
Oral arguments are set for Nov. 1.
“Back when this investigation first came to light, our team continued to make sure our city is safe, create jobs, educate our children, deal with the issues around public safety, both in our subway system and on the streets, and that is what I must do,” Adams said.
Bossard asked Adams when permanent replacements would be named for several roles in the city’s administration that are being filled on an interim basis.
For example, Thomas G. Donlon was appointed the City of New York’s Police Commissioner by Adams on Sept. 13 after his predecessor Edward Caban resigned. Caban left after U.S. attorney investigators from the New York Southern District federal court seized his electronic devices and phones.
Adams announced on Oct. 10 that Donlon will soon step aside, as the city is in the final stages of appointing a permanent police commissioner. In September, a week after Donlon’s appointment, the FBI executed a warrant to search his Manhattan home and took materials unrelated to his police work.
The materials “came into my possession approximately 20 years ago,” he said at the time.
Coveted Positions
When asked how his administration is handling the resignations, Adams said, “New York City and our administration, we have a deep bench.”“There are so many people who want to serve in both those positions,” he said. “I’m up to 10 different resumes of who would like to be the police commissioner … [it’s a] coveted position in law enforcement across the entire globe.”
The other interim position that is waiting to be filled is health commissioner after Dr. Ashwin Vasan resigned in September.
“Those are the only two that are interim,” Adams said. “The others have been filled.”
After being asked if he would resigned if convicted, Adams said yes.
“[I’m entitled to] a jury of my peers but I’m not going to speculate,” he said. “I’m going to move forward and allow the process to take its course.”
In addition to Bossard’s inquiries, Adams fielded questions from viewers on illegal cannabis sales, lead paint abatement, redlight cameras, and street safety.
“I’m so proud when I think about the month of August, which is traditionally a place in a time when we have major shootings in our city,” Adams said. “We have the lowest number of shootings in the recorded history of this city. And the same when you look at robberies on our subway system ... the lowest number of robberies on our subway system in the history of the city.”
