NYC mayor pleads not guilty bribery, other charges

New York City’s Democratic Mayor Eric Adams on Friday appeared in federal court to face charges of soliciting foreign support for his campaign and accepting bribes. Adams previously denied wrongdoing this week even before prosecutors unveiled the exact charges against him. He entered a plea of not guilty in response to the U.S. Department of Justice’s accusations. Adams has also insisted he will remain in office despite the charges.

How are people taking the news he’ll stay in office? Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who represents voters from the Bronx and Queens, demanded that Adams resign. The investigation into Adams comes amid an ongoing flood of resignations and vacancies, Ocasio-Cortez said. The combination of empty offices and accusations of wrongdoing threatened the city government’s ability to function, she said. Federal investigators began circling Adams’ administration last year.

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, an independently elected official, also called for Adams to step down. Lander acknowledged that Adams was innocent until proven guilty and that he was entitled to his day in court. Nonetheless, defending against federal charges would require a great deal of time and attention that Adams wouldn’t be able to put toward serving his constituents, Lander argued.

Dig deeper: Read Carolina Lumetta’s report in The Stew about how Republicans are dealing with major allegations against one of their own state-level politicians in North Carolina.