Four high-ranking officials from New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ administration are resigning amid fallout from the Justice Department’s move to drop a corruption case against him. The decision has raised questions about the mayor’s independence and leadership, especially considering the broader political context involving President Trump’s immigration policies.
Mayor Adams confirmed that First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer, Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom, and Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Chauncey Parker were all stepping down.
City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams (not related to the mayor) was quick to call for the mayor’s resignation, saying the deputy mayors’ exits show that Adams has “lost the confidence and trust of his own staff, his colleagues in government, and New Yorkers.”
The three deputies who resigned — Torres-Springer, Joshi, and Williams-Isom — told staff they were leaving because of “the extraordinary events of the last few weeks.” Though they didn’t specify a date for their departure, Adams said they and Parker would stay on for now to ensure a smooth transition.
The turmoil follows a big decision from the Justice Department, when Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove ordered federal prosecutors to drop the corruption case against Adams. Bove explained that the case had been distracting the mayor from focusing on key issues like illegal immigration and violent crime. That directive set off a storm of controversy, with seven federal prosecutors resigning in protest, including the acting U.S. attorney for Manhattan, and some prominent Democrats calling for Adams to step down.
After the dust settled, Bove and other Justice Department officials filed paperwork asking the federal judge handling the case to dismiss the charges. The judge, Dale E. Ho, hasn’t acted on the request yet.
Adams, a former police captain, has pleaded not guilty to charges that he took over $100,000 in illegal campaign contributions and travel perks from foreign nationals while he was Brooklyn borough president. Critics say the Justice Department’s move to drop the case is part of a political bargain to ensure Adams’ cooperation with President Trump’s immigration agenda. The department has left open the possibility of refiling the charges later.
Several political figures, including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Nydia Velázquez, as well as Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado, have called for Adams to resign. However, Governor Kathy Hochul has said she’s taking a more cautious approach, stressing the need for a thoughtful decision. “The allegations are extremely concerning, but I can’t have a knee-jerk reaction,” she told MSNBC.
The drama over Adams’ legal case coincides with the mayor’s meeting with Trump’s border czar in New York, where he announced increased cooperation on immigration enforcement, including reestablishing an immigration office at the notorious Rikers Island jail.
In their resignation memo, Torres-Springer, Joshi, and Williams-Isom said their decision to step down was driven by the events of recent weeks, and that they were staying true to the oaths they took to serve New Yorkers and their families.
