New York Times Calls For Mayor Adams to Resign And ‘Turn City Hall Over to Someone Untainted’ After Indictment

(AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Following his criminal indictment, The New York Times editorial board called on Thursday for Mayor Eric Adams (D)to resign and turn over the keys to the city to “someone untainted.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York indicted Adams on five counts this week, accusing him of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national and bribery.

The Times noted that the mayor is “entitled to make a vigorous defense” in the editorial but added he should still resign because his administration had become tainted by “criminal charges and endless investigations.”

“But that does not mean he must force New York City to wait for him to prove his innocence under the law,” editors for the newspaper wrote. “To serve the city that elected him, Mr. Adams should immediately resign and turn City Hall over to someone untainted by criminal charges and endless investigations.” Top NY Democrats like Reps. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) have also called for Adams to resign.

Adams has repeatedly told the press that he will fight the charges by federal prosecutors and does not plan to resign from office. New York Gov . Kathy Hochul (D) has the authority to remove local officials from office but that power has not been used in decades.

“The challenge of governing the city is daunting for even the best mayors, and the specter of widespread corruption in the Adams administration has little precedent,” the paper continued. “Other top city officials have also resigned, apparently no longer willing to associate themselves with the Adams administration.”

“If he stayed in office, Mr. Adams would have to guide a City Hall that is now adrift, while facing a monthslong prosecution that will consume his attention and time,” the editors concluded. ” It is a task that would be a struggle for any elected official, but especially for one who has never been able to demonstrate a command over the city’s sprawling work force or point to major successes in the first three years of his term.”