As federal scrutiny looms large over his administration, Eric Adams didn’t shy away from the – literal – pulpit. On Sunday morning, the mayor stood before congregants in two East New York churches, comparing himself to the biblical figure Job — a man tested by overwhelming hardship – making it clear that he views the mounting FBI investigation into his campaign financing as just the latest challenge in a life marked by adversity followed by resilience.
“A reporter said to me this morning, ‘Do you feel like you’re being persecuted?’ I said no, I’m just in my Job moment,” Adams said, his voice steady as he addressed worshipers at Changing Lives Christian Center. His words felt less like a defense and more like a declaration of faith in his ability to weather the storm, as if drawing a line between his personal trials and the public scrutiny now enveloping his administration.
“Pray — pray for them all,” Adams said. “Pray for me.”
The latest chapter in that scrutiny unfolded last week, as federal agents raided the homes of several key aides, including Sheena Wright, the first deputy mayor, and Schools Chancellor David Banks. The FBI’s actions come as part of a wider investigation into Adams’ 2021 mayoral campaign, though the mayor has not been formally accused of wrongdoing.
Later, at Power and Authority Evangelical Ministry, Adams reflected on the spiritual lessons he learned as a child, particularly from the story of Job. “When you’re in those dark places, they are not burials, they are plantings,” he said, hinting at a belief that adversity leads to growth — a message he’s used to navigate controversy before.
In the past, Adams has made other statements about his relationship with God and its political ramifications. In a conversation he had with Radio Vision Cristiania in 2023, he said, “I am mayor because God gave me the authority to be mayor, and he placed in the hearts of the voters to give me that authority.”
East New York, a neighborhood where Adams enjoyed strong electoral support in 2021, welcomed him with open arms. But even as his base remains loyal, the federal investigation looms large, threatening to overshadow a mayoralty once fueled by confidence and faith.
