Mayor Eric Adams finds himself once more coping with scandals involving former members of his administration as he seeks re-election.
Photograph by Lloyd Mitchell
Mayor Eric Adams’ main November common election rivals pounced on the most recent spherical of corruption costs towards his former prime adviser, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, that got here down Thursday, in addition to a report that one other ex-top aide, Winnie Greco, tried handy a journalist a cash-stuffed potato chip bag the day earlier than.
Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani — the frontrunner within the mayor’s race — and his main impartial rival, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, each charged that New Yorkers have suffered because of the alleged corruption that has run rampant in Adams’ administration. They stated the myriad scandals which have plagued the mayor — a Democrat mounting a long-shot reelection battle as an impartial — present he has no enterprise remaining on the helm of Metropolis Corridor.
Within the first occasion, Manhattan state prosecutors charged Lewis-Martin, who resigned from Adams’ administration final December, in 4 separate indictments on Aug. 21. She is accused of accepting $75,000 value of money and different lavish advantages from a number of people in alternate for a bevy of official favors.
Ingrid Lewis-Martin, a former senior aide to Mayor Eric Adams, is escorted by detectives in handcuffs at New York County Felony Courtroom on Aug. 21, 2025.Photograph by Dean Moses
Mamdani, in a press release, painted the most recent spherical of corruption costs as one more distraction from tackling important points, together with town’s affordability disaster.
“Corruption isn’t just about what a politician gains, it’s about what the public loses,” Mamdani stated. “And right now, New Yorkers are paying the price as another flurry of indictments continue to erode their trust in our democracy and distract from the affordability crisis that demands action and urgency. Our city deserves a mayor who spends their time with constituents, not stuck in courtrooms. We need a new era of leadership.”
Democratic mayoral nominee and Meeting member Zohran Mamdani.Photograph by Lloyd Mitchell
However Cuomo, who’s polling second to Mamdani, provided the extra pointed rebuke of the 2.
The previous governor, throughout a Thursday afternoon Midtown Manhattan press occasion during which his workers jokingly positioned luggage of chips on reporters’ chairs, declared that the corruption scandals are “sad” and “embarrassing” for town.
Cuomo went as far as to recommend, “I don’t think Eric Adams is a viable candidate for mayor.” But when requested if Adams ought to drop out of the race, Cuomo stated, “I think that is his decision.”
“This is a race between myself and the Assemblyman,” Cuomo stated, referring to Mamdani. “I think that was the case, I think it’s more clearly the case. I think New Yorkers have made it clear that they just have had enough with Mayor Adams.”
Cuomo stands to realize way over Mamdani from Adams dropping out of the race. He and Adams are splitting assist among the many identical average voters, due to this fact, if Adams drops out, Cuomo would choose up no less than a few of these voters and have a greater probability at overcoming Mamdani.
Former Gov. and impartial mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo.Photograph by Lloyd Mitchell
Cuomo and Adams have pressed one another to exit the race to strengthen their skill to defeat Mamdani, however neither has capitulated. Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, who typically trails in third or fourth place with Adams, has additionally refused to drop out.
Cuomo additional charged that Adams’ alleged quid professional quo with the Trump administration to drop his federal corruption case earlier this yr is “disqualifying.” Adams denies that he made a deal to have his costs dropped.
“I think when he made a personal arrangement that benefitted him with the president of the United States at the cost of the people of New York City, that was disqualifying,” Cuomo stated.
