Feb. 19 (UPI) — U.S. District of Southern New York Judge Dale Ho ordered those involved in the federal case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams to appear in court by 5 p.m. EST Wednesday.
The conference hearing is to discuss the potential dismissal of federal charges against Adams, USA Today reported.
Officials with the Department of Justice on Friday filed a motion to dismiss the case and all related charges against Adams.
In his order to all involved parties, Ho said the DOJ’s motion says, “Adams has consented in writing to this motion,” but that document has not been presented to the court.
Ho ordered all parties to appear for a conference at 2 p.m. EST and no later than 5 p.m. to address the reasons for the government’s motion and the “scope and effect of Mayor Adams’ ‘consent in writing.'”
Adams earlier pleaded not guilty to the charges accusing him of corruption and fraud and said they are politically motivated due to his criticism of the Biden administration’s handling of immigration.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has the power to remove Adams as New York City’s mayor and on Tuesday met with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander and others to discuss whether or not she should remove Adams, CBS News reported.
Hochul in a statement issued Monday said no New York governor in the state’s 235-year history has removed a “duly-elected mayor.”
“Overturning the will of the voters is a serious step that should not be taken lightly,” she said.
A coalition of nearly a dozen Black New York lawmakers wrote Hochul to oppose efforts to remove Adams prior to New York City’s June primary, the New York Daily News reported Wednesday.
“As Black legislators, we have seen this over and over again: double standards and unfair process when it comes to our leaders. If a move against the mayor is made without a justifiable legal reason, our communities will never forget it.”
The federal charges against Adams accuse him of accepting bribes from representatives of Turkey to gain approval to open a new Turkish consulate in New York City.
