Governor Kathy Hochul has decided not to remove New York City Mayor Eric Adams from office, but instead announced a plan to limit his authority followng a string of scandals.
The New York governor said that she would propose legislation and measures aimed at exerting more oversight over the mayor’s office.
The announcement comes days after the US justice department’s push to drop a corruption case against Adams, which a former top prosecutor alleged was a quid-pro-quo in exchange for his cooperation on immigration enforcement.
Adams was indicted on corruption and bribery charges last year, and his trial is scheduled for April. The mayor pleaded not guilty and has denied wrongdoing.
Announcing the “guardrails” against Adams on Thursday , the governor said she decided not to use her power to remove the mayor as she could not defy the “will of the voters”.
In her new plan, she has proposed a new inspector general position for New York City, providing more resources for city officials to take legal action against the Trump administration, and expanding funding for the state comptroller’s office to conduct more oversight of the city.
Hochul said these steps would “make sure our leaders are operating only with the city’s best interest in mind.”
It comes as Mayor Adams awaits the decision of a New York judge regarding his corruption case.
Adams was indicted last year for allegedly accepting gifts totalling more than $100,000 (£75,000) from Turkish citizens in exchange for favours.
The Trump Administration ordered its Manhattan prosecutors to drop the case against Adams, arguing it impedes on his official duties regarding national security, and violates a Trump directive against “weaponisation” of the justice system.
Shortly after the Justice Department issued its order, the top Manhattan federal prosecutor in the case, Danielle Sassoon, resigned in protest. Several other federal prosecutors followed.
