Mayor Eric Adams’ Lawyer Denies Resignation in Works

A mysterious illness, comments from a union supporter and meetings with President Donald Trump have triggered speculation that Mayor Eric Adams will quit this week, but his criminal defense attorney denied that Wednesday.

“He’s not resigning,” lawyer Alex Spiro said as he exited a Manhattan court building, NY1 reporter Kelly Mena tweeted.

Asked if Adams is negotiating a deal to resolve the corruption charges against him, which would almost certainly require the mayor to step down, Spiro said, “No, he’s innocent,” according to Mena.

Spiro had been in a private conference about the case, in which Adams is accused of trading favors for discounted travel and straw donations to his campaign that were matched by public funds.

Several developments gave rise to the rumor about a plea deal, which Spiro called “completely false.”

First, Adams has been cozying up to President Donald Trump, who has said he will consider pardoning the mayor and who appoints the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District, the office prosecuting the case.

Then, the mayor cleared his public schedule this week, citing a mysterious illness, which his press team explained in a cryptic statement. The announcement said the mayor “hasn’t been feeling his best” and would be undergoing “routine” tests.

“His office is refusing to share any details about the nature of the mayor’s ailment,” tweeted Chris Sommerfeldt, the Daily News’ City Hall reporter.

The break from public appearances would give the mayor time to negotiate with prosecutors, consult with supporters and ponder his options. He appeared to be doing that in a Monday night meeting at Gracie Mansion with leaders of two unions that have been key backers of his: 32BJ SEIU, which represents doormen and other building service workers, and the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, which represents hotel workers.

Politico NY reported the meeting, which did not appear on the mayor’s schedule, and quoted a hotel union spokesperson saying the group’s president, Rich Maroko, pledged to back Adams if he seeks re-election.

“Rich’s response was if you’re in, we’re in with you,” the spokesperson said.

The key word was “if.” Until now, the mayor has insisted that he is running, but the union’s statement suggests he is considering alternatives.

When prosecutors agree to plea agreements with elected officials, they nearly always insist that resignation be part of the deal. The Southern District in particular has a long history of targeting corruption, and Trump’s nominee to lead it, Jay Clayton, has a reputation as tough and independent.

Moreover, Clayton is unlikely to start his tenure with a slap-on-the-wrist deal that sinks the morale of his staff and undermines his own standing. However, the New York Times reported that Trump administration officials have spoken to prosecutors in the Southern District, which is being led on an interim basis by Danielle Sassoon, about dropping the case.

Other factors pointing to an exit by Adams include horrendous poll numbers, fundraising struggles, mounting legal bills and, according to Politico, no public commitment to support him by the other union president in the Gracie Mansion meeting, 32BJ’s Manny Pastreich.

A long list of Democrats have either begun campaigning or have been floated as candidates, including Adams’ own police commissioner, Jessica Tisch. Because of ranked-choice voting, Adams would not be helped by a large field of challengers splitting the anti-Adams vote.

Adams has pleaded not guilty. Were he to leave office early, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams would succeed him on an interim basis. There is some disagreement on whether Williams would have to call a special election or could simply serve out the mayor’s term, which concludes at the end of this year. The general election is in November.

Late Tuesday night, former City Council member Sal Albanese tweeted, “A usually good source tells me @NYCMayor is cutting a deal with Feds & resigning in 72 hours. This guy has been reliable in past, but who knows[?]”