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(Reuters) – Four deputies under New York Mayor Eric Adams are reportedly planning to resign soon, marking a significant shift in their support for the mayor amidst ongoing controversies. This follows the Justice Department, under President Donald Trump, seeking to dismiss criminal charges against Adams, which has garnered attention and concern from various quarters, according to local media on Monday.
Previous actions to drop the charges against Adams have already triggered a wave of resignations within the Justice Department, where officials expressed their refusal to comply with the directive to dismiss charges that had previously been upheld by a grand jury.
Despite reports from sources such as WNBC television and the New York Times regarding the planned resignations of four deputy mayors, Reuters has not been able to verify this information. Adams’ office did not provide immediate comments on the situation, though a spokesperson mentioned that no resignations have occurred yet. The four deputy mayors named have also been unavailable for comments.
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This past Sunday, Adams reportedly held a Zoom meeting with at least three deputy mayors, who indicated their desire to step down from their roles, according to WNBC, which cited sources familiar with the discussions.
The purpose of the meeting was to persuade these senior aides to reconsider their plans to resign, a move that could potentially destabilize Adams’ leadership as he faces increasing demands for his resignation.
Among those expressing their intention to resign are First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer, Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi, and Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom, who recount having met with Adams on Friday to discuss their plans, as noted by one unnamed source.
Additionally, Deputy Mayor Chauncey Parker, who is responsible for public safety, also communicated his intent to resign, further fueling speculation about a shift in the administration’s stability.
The New York Times corroborated this narrative, citing insights from three knowledgeable individuals regarding the deputy mayors’ plans.
Adams, a Democrat and former police officer who ascended to the mayoral position in 2022, has faced mounting pressure to resign since last September. That’s when federal prosecutors unsealed a five-count indictment against him, alleging the acceptance of travel benefits from Turkish officials and foreign political donations in exchange for favorable actions benefiting Turkey.
In response to the charges, Adams has maintained his innocence, pleading not guilty and asserting that he has committed no wrongdoing, firmly stating that he will not resign from office.
However, after Trump’s inauguration on January 20, the newly appointed leadership within the Justice Department moved to drop the charges against Adams, though U.S. District Judge Dale Ho must still approve this request for it to be finalized.
(Reporting by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
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