Eric Adams Goes Scot-Free And Begins Afresh
Eric Adams story is as New Yorkian as it gets. It is a story about dedication, hard work, and above all, resilience. Throughout his political career, he often recalled his challenging childhood. In an interview with the New York Post in 2021, Adams detailed how, “he and his five siblings adopted one of the rats that infested their fourth-floor walk-up in Brownsville.”
No Stranger To Politics
Before becoming mayor, Eric Adams served as a New York State Senator and Brooklyn’s Borough President. Prior to that, he served in the New York Police Department, moving up the ladder among the “New York’s Finest.” Therefore, it came as no surprise when Adams replaced Mayor Bill de Blasio, trouncing opponents in the Democratic Primary and the Mayoral Election in 2021. Afterall, Adams’ account had all the elements of a Nietzschean narrative — he had escaped stasis, overcame adversity and defied all odds. And New Yorkers, who have a penchant for the proverbial underdog, lapped up the story instantaneously.
However, the cracks started to appear. A Bronx high-rise fire and then the Harlem police shooting thrust Eric Adams into the thick of things. While the City’s emergency response was lauded, critics questioned the Mayor’s response (or lack thereof) after the fact. The influx of migrants further complicated his position. Many welcomed the newcomers; but had a hard time justifying the abnormal surge in subway crime. While correlation does not necessarily imply causation, latent fears especially among women and the elderly resurfaced as the administration again came under intense scrutiny.
In November 2023, The New York Times reported an FBI investigation into Adams’ ties with Turkey. Rumors suggested quid pro quo deals to bypass a fire inspection at the Turkish consulate.
On September 25, 2024 “Adams was indicted on federal charges of bribery, fraud, and soliciting foreign campaign donations.” Unsurprisingly, Adams pleaded not guilty, claiming a deep state hit-job’ against him. Despite calls for his resignation, Adams remained defiant. Adams allied with the then candidate Donald Trump and quasi-embraced the movement.
Eric Adams Is Offered A New Lease Of Life
In February, after months of investigation, “top Justice Department official ordered prosecutors to drop charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams.” On April 2, 2025, Judge Dale E. Ho “dismissed the criminal corruption case against Mayor Eric Adams.”
Undeterred, Eric Adams announced that he would not resign. In fact, he plans to leave the Democratic Party and start his own to contest the upcoming mayoral election. Whether New Yorkers will accept Eric Adams after this political pandemonium remains uncertain.
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