# NYC Mayor Eric Adams indicted on federal charges, says NYT

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-mayor-eric-adams-indicted-on-federal-charges-says-nyt/1007729>\
**Category:** Politics & Elections\
**Created:** [September 26, 2024, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-mayor-eric-adams-indicted-on-federal-charges-says-nyt/1007729 "2024-09-26T02:17:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 6

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**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-mayor-eric-adams-indicted-on-federal-charges-says-nyt/1007729/101 "2025-02-14T19:51:09Z")

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The DOJ is seeking to dismiss the charges against Adams “without prejudice,” meaning: they can refile the charges at any time\*.

Adams made a deal with the devil. I hope he can live with it.

\*I offer that to the general audience, not specifically under the assumption that _you_ don’t know this.

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**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-mayor-eric-adams-indicted-on-federal-charges-says-nyt/1007729/102 "2025-02-14T20:02:30Z")

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Trump has the mayor of NYC in his pocket on a short leash. Gov. Hochul needs to remove him from office _tout suite_!

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**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-mayor-eric-adams-indicted-on-federal-charges-says-nyt/1007729/103 "2025-02-14T20:32:27Z")

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I agree. Make it clear that Trump’s not going to get his quo.

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**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2025, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-mayor-eric-adams-indicted-on-federal-charges-says-nyt/1007729/104 "2025-02-15T04:53:43Z")

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> [@John\_Bredin](#):
>
> Gov. Hochul needs to remove him from office _tout suite_!

Legally, she cannot. There is a never before tried process that seems similar to putting him on trial:

> **[A 'trial' after all? Here’s how Gov. Hochul could remove Mayor Adams.](https://gothamist.com/news/how-would-kathy-hocul-remove-eric-adams)**
>
> The governor isn’t closing the door on giving the mayor the boot. State and city law lay out a process for doing so.

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**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2025, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-mayor-eric-adams-indicted-on-federal-charges-says-nyt/1007729/105 "2025-02-15T05:17:33Z")

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> [@PhillyGuy](#):
>
> Legally, she cannot. There is a never before tried process that seems similar to putting him on trial:

Incorrect. According to the NYC charter;

> **[Section 9. Removal of mayor.](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/newyorkcity/latest/NYCcharter/0-0-0-5717)**
>
> Legal publisher offering ordinance codification services for local governments, specializing in providing codes of ordinances in print and on the Internet

> [@](#):
>
> The mayor may be removed from office by the governor upon charges and after service upon him of a copy of the charges and an opportunity to be heard in his defense.

There’s nothing in the text of the law about a “trial”, the governor is explicitly the sole arbiter of whether to remove him or not, and from the sound of it the entire process can be done in writing.

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**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2025, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-mayor-eric-adams-indicted-on-federal-charges-says-nyt/1007729/106 "2025-02-15T06:52:23Z")

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> [@Smapti](#):
>
> There’s nothing in the text of the law about a “trial”

I think regarding the language:

> an opportunity to be heard in his defense

That’s leading to the assumption of a trial but it doesn’t say there is one.

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**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2025, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-mayor-eric-adams-indicted-on-federal-charges-says-nyt/1007729/107 "2025-02-15T06:56:45Z")

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Has this process ever actually been carried out, as a historical precedent, recently enough to be meaningful?

Because that would seem to neatly chart out the middle ground between “we don’t know how this could be done” and “but there’s something in writing, right there.” Sure, there’s a paragraph about removal in the code, but if it hasn’t been invoked and a sitting mayor removed, then the real-world mechanics of the procedure are vague and unpredictable.

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**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2025, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-mayor-eric-adams-indicted-on-federal-charges-says-nyt/1007729/108 "2025-02-15T07:37:04Z")

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Meanwhile, Adams is planning to sue Trump over the $80 million Elon Musk stole from the city, which is a pretty ballsy move coming from someone with the sword of Damocles hanging over his head.

> **[Eric Adams now plans to sue Trump administration over missing FEMA money: report](https://www.rawstory.com/trump-cabinet-2671159478/)**
>
> Eric Adams is reportedly on the verge of taking the Trump administration to court, even after the Justice Department dropped criminal charges against Adams.City Hall officials became aware of $80 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency funds...

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**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2025, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-mayor-eric-adams-indicted-on-federal-charges-says-nyt/1007729/109 "2025-02-15T12:47:35Z")

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Interesting. This makes me wonder if I’ve been looking at this backward, and it’s _Adams_ who has, or thinks he has, significant leverage over Trump. Evidence of a crime committed in NY that might lead to state-level charges, say, which Trump wouldn’t be able to self-pardon.

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**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2025, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-mayor-eric-adams-indicted-on-federal-charges-says-nyt/1007729/110 "2025-02-15T13:11:59Z")

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Well, I posted upthread the article about Adams’ appearance on Fox, and last night on the PBS News Hour they covered that as well, and talked about how this seems to be an open quid pro quo.

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**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2025, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-mayor-eric-adams-indicted-on-federal-charges-says-nyt/1007729/111 "2025-02-15T14:27:05Z")

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Back when I was a working detective we used to work side-by-side with the feds. If the case was big enough, the U.S. Attorney’s office would prosecute. If not, it was prosecuted at the state level. In the case of wiretaps we would write parallel affidavits for the taps and other search warrant applications. This was due to there being different rules about what was required. For instance, the feds could get phone records with a subpoena and we needed a warrant.

So, my question is this - can the Southern District simply turn everything that was collected (that would meet NY rules) over to the NY AG and let them prosecute? My guess is the practical answer is “no” because the amount of evidence that would be tainted but is there a legal consequence if one of the outgoing AUSAs copied the entire file and gave to NY?

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**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2025, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-mayor-eric-adams-indicted-on-federal-charges-says-nyt/1007729/112 "2025-02-18T02:22:36Z")

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Sounds like Hochul is getting ready to take action.

[![](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:z6rujpf4u56jfie7aqic2nfg/bafkreie2dmpm5sdkml475ia65tbks62jvfs2sup6jtmojdhglasi4ioakm@jpeg) ](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:z6rujpf4u56jfie7aqic2nfg/bafkreie2dmpm5sdkml475ia65tbks62jvfs2sup6jtmojdhglasi4ioakm@jpeg)

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**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2025, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-mayor-eric-adams-indicted-on-federal-charges-says-nyt/1007729/113 "2025-02-21T01:17:34Z")

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> **[New York governor won't remove NYC mayor, for now, but plans to increase...](https://apnews.com/article/nyc-mayor-new-york-trump-14be53dca175ef4bf8a3c4204ba7ff05)**
>
> Gov. Kathy Hochul will not immediately remove New York City Mayor Eric Adams from office, but will instead push for increased oversight of City Hall.

This sends the wrong message: the New York governor doesn’t care if the New York City major is corrupt. It would be better for the future national electoral prospects of the Democratic party if it was strongly anti-corruption.

But the results of polls for the Democratic mayor primary really surprise me: while Eric Adams is only 10% the favorite with 33% is Andrew Cuomo. Andrew Cuomo, forced to resign as New York governor because of multiple cases of sexual harassment of state employees–but still the leading candidate for mayor. Weird.

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**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2025, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-mayor-eric-adams-indicted-on-federal-charges-says-nyt/1007729/114 "2025-02-21T01:44:33Z")

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“Sir and madame, what flavor of rat would you like for dinner?”

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**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2025, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-mayor-eric-adams-indicted-on-federal-charges-says-nyt/1007729/115 "2025-02-21T07:25:42Z")

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> [@PastTense](#):
>
> This sends the wrong message: the New York governor doesn’t care if the New York City major is corrupt.

I don’t love it either but there is a sort of perverse justice to it: you (as in Trump’s lackeys) fought so hard for this guy, well now you get to keep him.

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**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2025, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-mayor-eric-adams-indicted-on-federal-charges-says-nyt/1007729/116 "2025-02-21T14:26:51Z")

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🤷‍♂️ They see it as a win. The governor should have come down hard on him.

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**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2025, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-mayor-eric-adams-indicted-on-federal-charges-says-nyt/1007729/117 "2025-02-21T18:39:26Z")

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> A federal judge has vacated the upcoming trial date for New York City Mayor Eric Adams, but declined to immediately dismiss the charges all together in a case that has roiled the Justice Department.
> 
> Judge Dale Ho, however, is appointing conservative attorney Paul Clement to present arguments challenging the Justice Department’s decision to drop charges against Adams.

> **[Judge vacates Eric Adams corruption trial but doesn’t immediately dismiss...](https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/21/politics/eric-adams-charges-ruling/index.html)**
>
> A federal judge has vacated the upcoming trial date for New York City Mayor Eric Adams, but declined to immediately dismiss the charges all together.

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**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2025, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-mayor-eric-adams-indicted-on-federal-charges-says-nyt/1007729/118 "2025-02-23T14:18:40Z")

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And now Eric Adams is suing Trump to get NY it’s $80 million back?

What on Earth is going on??

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**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-mayor-eric-adams-indicted-on-federal-charges-says-nyt/1007729/119 "2025-02-24T03:01:31Z")

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> [@Babale](#):
>
> What on Earth is going on??

As I noted in the stupid MFs thread, he’s also been blabbing to HBO about evidence in the Luigi Mangione trial that his defense hasn’t even received in discovery yet, which seems like a really good way to cause a mistrial.

Maybe he just isn’t that bright.

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**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nyc-mayor-eric-adams-indicted-on-federal-charges-says-nyt/1007729/120 "2025-02-24T03:15:32Z")

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Is it possible that Mangione has something on him, and he’s deliberately trying to cause a mistrial (in a plausibly-deniable way)?

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