New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said on Feb. 20 that she will not remove New York City Mayor Eric Adams from office, after meeting with elected officials and others in the city.
“After careful consideration, I have determined that I will not commence removal proceedings at this time,” Hochul said during a press conference.
“My strong belief is that the will of the voters and the supremacy and sanctity of democratic elections preclude me from any other action.”
New York’s Constitution gives the governor the ability to remove the mayor of New York City, although that power has never been used.
“Overturning the will of the voters is a serious step that should not be taken lightly,” Hochul said at the time. “That said, the alleged conduct at City Hall that has been reported over the past two weeks is troubling and cannot be ignored.
“Tomorrow, I have asked key leaders to meet me at my Manhattan office for a conversation about the path forward, with the goal of ensuring stability for the City of New York.”
Both Hochul and Adams are Democrats. Adams is running for a second term. New York City’s mayoral election is in November.
Adams was charged in 2024 with violations of federal law, including accepting illegal campaign contributions. The U.S. Department of Justice has requested that a judge dismiss the charges. Adams told the judge during a hearing on Feb. 19 that he is innocent.
Adams’s staffers earlier on Feb. 20 abruptly ended a press conference the mayor held to announce a new public safety effort after a reporter asked whether Adams was concerned about possible limits to his power.
On Feb. 20, Hochul said she was opting against removing Adams from office but was still concerned about possible deals between Adams and the Trump administration and would propose legislation that would strengthen oversight of the mayor’s office.
One proposal would create a special inspector general for New York City affairs within the New York Office of the Inspector General. Another would give the Office of the New York State Comptroller additional funds to investigate New York City’s spending.
Adams has been accused of agreeing to help the federal government tackle illegal immigration in return for having the charges against him dismissed. Adams, his attorneys, and acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove have disputed the allegation.
