On Monday, four of New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ senior aides announced their resignations, marking another chapter in a series of controversies surrounding his administration. This departure creates a significant power vacuum within the city’s leadership.
This development follows a February 10 decision by the Justice Department, which instructed federal prosecutors to dismiss corruption allegations against Adams. They argued that the ongoing case was hindering the Democratic mayor’s capacity to implement President Biden’s initiatives, particularly regarding illegal immigration enforcement.
The corruption charges against Adams were initially filed in September and traced back to activities during his tenure as Brooklyn borough president in 2014.
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The aides who have stepped down include First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer and Deputy Mayors Meera Joshi, Anne Williams-Isom, and Chauncey Parker. Their resignations come amid increasing pressure on Governor Kathy Hochul to either remove Adams or for him to resign voluntarily.
Their exit follows the resignation of U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon along with five other senior Justice Department officials last week, after Sassoon declined to withdraw the charges against Adams.
The mayor’s office confirmed the resignations in a statement to NBC New York, praising the deputies as “extraordinary public servants who have played a crucial role in the transformation of New York City.”
The statement elaborated, “Together, we’ve achieved record-breaking housing numbers, created the highest number of jobs in the city’s history, supported countless New Yorkers and migrants, developed unprecedented public spaces, and enhanced safety across the board. New Yorkers owe them immense gratitude for their contributions to our city.”
Reports indicate that Adams tried to persuade the aides to reconsider their resignations during a Zoom call over the weekend, but they ultimately chose to proceed with their decision.
Joshi, who served as Deputy Mayor of Operations, reportedly communicated a collective statement from the deputies in an email directed to agency commissioners.
“In light of the extraordinary events of recent weeks and to honor the oaths we took to serve New Yorkers and our families, we have made the tough choice to resign from our positions,” the statement read.
TIME has reached out to the Mayor’s office for further comments.
