CNN
—

On Monday, four prominent officials from Eric Adams’ administration announced their resignations, further indicating a decline in the New York City mayor’s support among both workforce and elected representatives.

The departing officials include Maria Torres-Springer, the first deputy mayor; Anne Williams-Isom, deputy mayor for health and human services; Meera Joshi, deputy mayor for operations; and Chauncey Parker, deputy mayor for public safety, all of whom informed Adams of their decision to resign on Monday.

“While I am saddened to see them leave, I understand their reasoning given the current circumstances and wish them all the best in their future endeavors,” Adams stated in a press release addressing the resignations.

The departures of these high-profile city leaders represent a critical turning point for the Adams administration, which has been grappling to regain focus following a recent Department of Justice memo that directed federal prosecutors in New York to dismiss corruption allegations against the mayor.

This directive from the DOJ led to a wave of resignations among federal prosecutors in both New York and Washington, including the acting U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York, who chose to resign instead of following through with the order to dismiss the corruption case involving Adams, a Democrat. The prosecutors criticized this directive as a questionable arrangement, likening it to a “quid pro quo.”

As calls for Adams’ resignation grow louder, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced that she will gather city leaders on Tuesday to discuss the administration’s future direction.

Steadfast Leadership Amidst Turmoil

The quartet of deputy mayors had discussed their positions with Adams on Sunday but decided to finalize their resignations the following morning.

“In light of the unprecedented events of the past few weeks and in order to uphold the commitments we made to New Yorkers and our families, we have made the tough choice to resign,” Joshi, Torres-Springer, and Williams-Isom stated together.

The departed officials are seasoned public servants with strong reputations within the city’s government, having been instrumental in implementing much of the mayor’s agenda. Their responsibilities extended to some of the largest city departments, including the public hospital system, the Department of Homeless Services, and the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs.

Following Adams’ indictment on federal corruption charges last year, this group was viewed as a stabilizing force keeping city operations running smoothly even as Adams faced the ongoing legal challenges.

Parker, who joined the administration more recently, remarked, “It has been an incredible honor to serve as deputy mayor for public safety under Mayor Adams. I am optimistic that the administration will continue working hard for the people of this city.”

The exact timing of the resignations remains uncertain. In his statement, Adams indicated that the “deputy mayors will stay in their roles for the moment to ensure a smooth transition.”

The resignations come on the heels of previous high-profile departures from the administration shortly after corruption charges against the mayor were made public in September.

Last year, the Justice Department filed public corruption charges against Adams, marking a first in modern New York City history for an active mayor. Adams pleaded not guilty to accusations of bribery, corruption, wire fraud, and soliciting donations from foreign entities, with the trial set to commence this spring. The recent order states that the charges should be dismissed “without prejudice,” allowing for the possibility of re-filing in the future.

The directive emphasized the mayor’s requirement to align with federal immigration initiatives, leading some New York lawmakers to express concern that Adams may feel “beholden” to those in the Trump administration.

Following the directive’s announcement, Adams met with Trump’s border czar, stating his intention to leverage executive powers to bolster the city’s cooperation with federal immigration agencies.

Adams clarified to Fox News on Friday that there was no arrangement made for the DOJ to withdraw the charges in exchange for his compliance regarding immigration issues. Furthermore, Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, labeled assertions claiming that concessions made by Adams related to the DOJ’s orders as “ridiculous.”

Pressure is mounting from city and state officials for Adams to either resign or for Gov. Hochul to use her authority to remove him. Although the governor has indicated she is considering her options, she has yet to take definitive action.

Hochul announced Monday night her intention to meet with city leaders at her Manhattan office on Tuesday to discuss “the path forward.”

Addressing the resignations, she stated, “If they feel unable to serve at City Hall during this period, it raises serious concerns regarding the long-term viability of this mayoral administration.”

Hochul has the authority as governor to remove the mayor, though this process is complex and has not been enacted in nearly a century.

“In the 235 years of New York State’s history, these powers have never been utilized to dismiss an elected mayor; altering the will of the voters is a grave measure that should not be taken lightly,” Hochul stated. “However, the alleged behaviors within City Hall reported over the past fortnight are alarming and cannot be overlooked.”

A source familiar with the upcoming meeting informed CNN that senior Democrats are expected to participate either in-person in New York or virtually from Washington, D.C.

In light of the deputy resignations, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams has called for the mayor to resign, asserting in a succinct statement that the mayor has “lost the confidence and trust of his staff, his governmental colleagues, and the residents of New York.”

“He must now prioritize the interests of New York City and its people, resign, and step aside,” she expressed. “These departures reflect the outcomes of the mayor’s choices, leading to instability that jeopardizes the City’s sovereign integrity, invites disorder, and could pose risks to our families.”

City Comptroller Brad Lander, who is contesting Eric Adams in the upcoming June mayoral primary, also responded swiftly, requesting that the administration provide details on its contingency plans as four senior officials prepare to vacate their positions.

“These exits will create an unprecedented leadership gap at the highest tiers of City government, severely affecting our capacity to deliver essential services to New Yorkers,” Lander cautioned.

His request for a plan came with a warning: if the mayor fails to provide one by week’s end, Lander declared he would initiate a meeting of the Inability Committee. This committee could potentially set in motion New York City’s own version of an impeachment process, a never-before-utilized move in the city’s modern era.

Per the city charter, a “committee on mayoral inability” consists of five members: the city’s corporation counsel, the comptroller, the City Council speaker, a deputy mayor chosen by the mayor, and the most senior borough president. Four out of these five members must agree to convene the committee, after which the City Council, where Adams lacks robust support, would vote to determine whether Adams is temporarily or permanently “unable” to fulfill the duties of his office, as outlined in the charter.

Adams, who attended various church services on Sunday, asserted, “I’m not stepping down; I’m stepping up,” a mantra he has reiterated since facing federal indictment last September.

This article has been updated with further details.