Rev. Al Sharpton said New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) should not be pressured into removing New York City Mayor Eric Adams from office as he faces a five-count criminal indictment stemming from a federal corruption investigation.
“The governor should not be pressured into removing Eric Adams from being the mayor,” Sharpton said at a National Action Network rally on Saturday.
Adams, who has been charged with wire fraud, foreign contribution solicitation and bribery, denied allegations of wrongdoing in a press conference Thursday. He insisted he would not resign from office.
The civil rights leader added that Adams is responsible for deciding whether he is able to run the city and defend himself in court.
“If the man decides he cannot run the city well and defend himself, then he will have to make that decision,” he said.
The reverend also warned against the kind of precedent removing an indicted individual would set.
“Where is the precedent for an indictment making you have to step aside?” Sharpton asked, questioning how people are “establishing that an indictment means a conviction.”
“Let the mayor decide where he wants to go,” Sharpton added.
Sharpton also said some people believe Adams was targeted, but then dismissed the idea.
“I do not believe that Joe Biden targeted [anybody],” he said, referencing the fact that the president’s son, Hunter Biden, faced an indictment as well.
Sharpton said that he plans to host a “leadership meeting” next week but said that “it’s not a press conference.” He said the meeting is for discussing things “privately” and coming out with a “hopefully united point of view” about recent events in New York.