In a rally on Saturday, Rev. Al Sharpton called on New York Governor Kathy Hochul to resist the urge to use her gubernatorial power to oust Mayor Eric Adams, a move that could set a precarious political precedent. Sharpton’s statement came just days after the governor publicly hinted she was considering her “options and obligations” in response to Adams’ recent indictment on bribery and fraud charges. Sharpton, while not diminishing the severity of the accusations, urged caution, drawing parallels with other political figures who have faced similar scrutiny.
“The governor should not be pressured into removing Eric Adams from being the mayor,” Sharpton, one of New York’s most prominent Black leaders, declared during his National Action Network rally in Harlem. “There is no precedent for that,” he emphasized, referencing past cases where elected officials remained in office while under investigation.
Though he has long been a vocal supporter of the mayor, Sharpton had remained notably silent in the immediate aftermath of the indictment. His return to the spotlight on Adams’ behalf suggests a recalibration, perhaps in recognition of the broader implications this case may have for the city’s political future.
In particular, Sharpton highlighted the case of U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, who faced corruption charges and was not forced to step down. “They found gold bars in his house, Mercedes Benz… He was not forced to resign until he was convicted,” Sharpton pointed out.
The legal mechanism for removing a sitting mayor is rarely invoked. Governor Hochul, under the New York City Charter, could theoretically remove Adams, a power that dates back to a 1932 precedent when then-Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt weighed removing Mayor Jimmy Walker amid a corruption scandal. Walker resigned before Roosevelt could act, leaving the tool largely unused in modern times. Hochul has so far been measured in her response, stating that she is “weighing her options,” though her office declined to comment further.
While Sharpton expressed skepticism toward some of Adams’ public claims—particularly the mayor’s suggestion that his indictment might be politically motivated due to his involvement with federal agencies over New York’s migrant crisis—he was firm in his belief that the legal process must be allowed to play out without undue interference.
“We’re going to see where the evidence is,” Sharpton said. “But we are not going to stand by silently and let Governor Hochul not know that some of us are saying: ‘Do not change the process and the precedent.’ Let due process take its course.”
The mayor, who has vocally maintained his innocence, faces criticism from multiple fronts, with some questioning his leadership amid growing legal troubles. Adams has staunchly defended himself, labeling the charges a politically charged attack.
Sharpton also took a lighthearted jab at former President Donald Trump, who recently expressed support for Adams. “If I was facing a federal trial, the last person I want to speak up for me is somebody convicted of 34 felonies,” Sharpton quipped, garnering laughter from the crowd.
