Statement from Michael Blake on February 12, 2025.
Vice President Eric Adams is a compromised asset who cannot lead New York City because he
now must either follow the orders of Trump and Elon and sacrifice New Yorker’s priorities or go
to prison. Completely disgraced and publicly humiliated, Adams does not have the courage or
the class to resign. Now, it is up to Governor Hochul or the Committee on Mayoral Inability to
remove this totally compromised asset.
Moreover, U.S. District Court Judge Ho should not allow Vice President Adams’ charges to be
dropped as they are centrally focused on New York City bribery, wire fraud and illegal straw
campaign donations. We look to Attorney General James and District Attorney Bragg to uphold
the rule of law and hold Eric Adams and his corrupt regime criminally accountable.
This is not normal. Promising to offer someone protection so long as they do what you ask of
them (legal or not) is straight out of The Godfather. Vice President Adams is severely
compromised, cannot effectively govern our city and must immediately resign. New Yorkers
need to know that when their Mayor makes a decision, it is made in their best interest and not in
the Mayor’s best interest so that he avoids prison. He simply cannot remain in office.
Vice President Adams openly sought to gain the favor of President Trump to save himself from
going to prison for decades. With the DOJ’s memo directing the US Attorney’s Office in
Manhattan to seek a dismissal of the charges against Vice President Adams, it appears he has
been successful – at least for now. In so doing, Vice President Adams has sacrificed our
immigrant population to future ICE raids and, like so many other politicians, pledged loyalty to a
would-be dictator. Since the DOJ has reserved the right to refile the criminal charges against
Vice President Adams at any time, they now have a heavy hammer to make sure he complies
with every aspect of President Trump’s corrupt and illegal agenda. Make no mistake, Trump will
make Vice President Adams bend to his every desire because Vice President Adams knows that
if he does not, he is going to prison for a long time.
While justice at the federal level is severely weakened, New York must remain committed to the
rule of law and ensure that public corruption is rooted out. Many of the charges against Vice
President Adams in the federal indictment have analogous criminal statues under New York State
law, including Wire Fraud (Penal Law § 190.60 and § 190.65), Bribery (Penal Law § 200.10) and
Offering a False Instrument for Filing (Penal Law § 175.35). The facts alleged in the federal
indictment are devastating and make a strong case.
I call upon Attorney General James and District Attorney Bragg to uphold the rule of law and
promptly seek an indictment against Vice President Adams under applicable New York State law.
If the federal government will not ensure that corruption is appropriately punished, then New
York must do it on its own.
