AOC calls on Adams to resign 'for the good of the city,' as federal investigations and resignations mount

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York, speaks during the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Aug. 19, 2024.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York, speaks during the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Aug. 19, 2024. Photo credit Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images

NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — As federal investigations across his administration intensify and top city leaders step down from their posts, New York City Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has become the most prominent Democrat to call on Mayor Eric Adams to resign.

In a statement she shared on social media calling out Adams, Ocasio-Cortez, who represents parts of the Bronx and Queens, said that “for the good of the city, he should resign.”

“I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City,” the congresswoman wrote. “The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening gov function. Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration.”

In a statement responding to Ocasio-Cortez, Adams pointed to what he called the congresswoman's “hypocrisy,“ and remained steadfast in his position as mayor.

“For anyone who self-righteously claims people charged with serious crimes should not be in jail to now say that the second Black mayor of New York should resign because of rumors and innuendo—without even a single charge being filed—is the height of hypocrisy,” Adams said. “I am leading this city to protect it from exactly that kind of phony politics. The people of this city elected me to fight for them, and I will stay and fight no matter what.”

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is pictured at the Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem on Aug. 26, 2024.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams is pictured at the Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem on Aug. 26, 2024. Photo credit Luiz C. Ribeiro/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

Criticism of Adams has been mounting as federal investigations continue to swarm his administration, coinciding with the resignation of top NYC officials, like Police Commissioner Edward Caban, City Hall’s chief legal counsel Lisa Zornberg and most recently, NYC Schools Chancellor David Banks, who will yield his post to deputy chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos at the start of 2025.

Ocasio-Cortez joins NYC Councilmembers Tiffany Cabán and Alex Avilés; State Sens. Julia Salazar, Gustavo Rivera and Jabari Brisport; and State Assemblywoman Emily Gallagher in calling for Adams' resignation.

On Sept. 16, Cabán became the first to demand a resignation from the mayor, stating that Adams “leads with corruption and mismanagement” and that because “15+ of his associates are now under investigation,” he is “unfit to govern.”

A federal public corruption probe into Adams' 2021 mayoral campaign financing came to public light in November after the FBI raided the Brooklyn home of the mayor’s former chief fundraiser Brianna Suggs, and that investigation has been followed be an increasing number of unrelated inquiries.

On Sept. 4, federal agents raided the homes of Deputy Mayor of Public Safety Philip Banks and senior public safety advisor Timothy Pearson, as well as the shared home of First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright and Chancellor Banks. Agents seized electronic devices from all the officials.

This occurred the same day that cellphones were seized from former Police Commissioner Caban in an investigation that is eyeing at least five other members of the NYPD, and is searching for evidence of bid-rigging for city contracts and at the enforcement of nightlife regulations.

Adams has consistently said that he is unaware of any wrongdoing in his administration and expects complete cooperation with federal investigations.

Federal authorities executed search warrants at the residences of Caban’s replacement, Interim Police Commissioner Timothy Donlon, on Sept. 20 and seized materials that he claimed “came into [his] possession 20 years ago and are unrelated to [his] work with the New York City Police Department.”

This raid took place only eight days after Caban’s resignation was announced.

Brooklyn Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, leader of the House Democrats, said while speaking with reporters on Wednesday that Adams is “working as hard as he can to be the best mayor possible.”

“We need Eric Adams to be successful as mayor because he is the mayor at this moment,” Jeffries said.

Featured Image Photo Credit: Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images