Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) called on Democratic New York City Mayor Eric Adams to resign as he faces a slew of corruption allegations.
Investigations and accusations of corruption have plagued Adams since November 2023, when the FBI raided the homes of two of his associates. Numerous close associates have since been investigated, raided, and arrested, some as recently as this month, presenting a chaotic image of his administration. In a statement to the New York Times on Wednesday, Ocasio-Cortez became the most prominent Democrat to openly call on Adams to resign.
“The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening government function,” she said. “Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration.”
“For the good of the city, he should resign,” Ocasio-Cortez added.
The New York Democrat elaborated on her position in a post on X, saying that the investigations were threatening the government’s function.
“I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City,” she said.
I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City.
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.…
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) September 25, 2024
The two New York Democrats have never been on the same page, and Ocasio-Cortez didn’t endorse Adams in the 2021 Democratic mayoral primary.
Other lower-level Democrats have called on Adams to resign, including New York City Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán and New York State Sen. Gustavo Rivera. Ocasio-Cortez’s call opens the door for other elected Democrats to follow suit.
However, the top Democrat in the House of Representatives, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), a fellow New Yorker, refrained from making the demand of Adams.
“Eric Adams is working as hard as he can to be the best mayor possible and meet the needs of the residents of New York City,” Jeffries said on Wednesday. “We need Eric Adams to be successful as mayor because he is the mayor at this moment.”
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Adams’s phone and iPad were seized in November, one of the first indications of a major investigation. In July, the mayor was served two grand jury subpoenas. The past month has seen a slew of new revelations, raids, and resignations.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the Department of Justice, FBI, Internal Revenue Service, and the city Department of Investigation all have investigations into Adams, though it isn’t clear what crimes they are focusing on.
Cami Mondeaux contributed to this report.