What it would take to remove embattled New York City Mayor Eric Adams from office

New York City Mayor Eric Adams was indicted on five counts. He has denied wrongdoing.

After news broke that New York City Mayor Eric Adams was indicted on five criminal counts, many other politicians started calling on him to resign his post. So far, Adams has remained defiant.

“I will fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and my spirit,” Adams said in a recorded statement on Wednesday when news of the indictment was reported. He has denied any wrongdoing.

That doesn’t mean that he’s guaranteed to remain in power, though. There are two ways that he could be removed from office — no matter the outcome of a trial.

Gov. Kathy Hochul could make the decision or a never-before-used ‘inability committee’

Under the city’s charter, Hochul could remove Adams if he is charged with a crime. Yet Hochul and Adams have remained close allies in recent years, and it’s unclear whether she would choose to oust him, according to Gothamist, New York City-based outlet.

In a second scenario outlined in the charter, the city could convene a never-before-used “inability committee.” The committee includes five members: New York City’s top attorney, the comptroller, the City Council speaker, the borough president serving the longest consecutive term, and a deputy mayor that the mayor selects, the city charter states.

As of now, three of those positions are held by known individuals. Adrienne Adams is the City Council Speaker, Donovan Richards is the longest-serving borough president, and Brad Lander is the comptroller (and running for mayor himself in 2025).

Richards did not respond to a request for comment. A spokesperson for Lander declined to comment.

The position of top attorney — formally known as corporation counsel — is vacant, though Muriel Goode-Trufant is serving the role in an acting capacity. Goode-Trufant did not respond to a request for comment.

Randy Mastro, a former federal prosecutor who was nominated by Adams for the top attorney position, withdrew his bid for the role in September, The New York Times reported.

It is also unclear whom Adams would select as deputy mayor.

Four out of five committee members would need to vote to kick Adams out of office.

“The mayor made clear today that he plans to continue delivering for 8.3 million New Yorkers as mayor,” Fabien Levy, a spokesperson for Adams, told B-17 in an email.

Who would replace Adams?

If Adams is removed from office or resigns, Jumaane Williams, the city’s public advocate, would serve as acting mayor. Should Williams not be able to serve, Lander, the comptroller, would take over until a special election is held for mayor.

Within three days of Adams vacating Gracie Mansion, Williams would need to name a date for a special election. According to city rules, that date would be the first Tuesday that’s 80 days after Adams steps down.

The election wouldn’t include a primary, so candidates would run without a party affiliation. Voters would use ranked-choice voting, as they did in the last mayoral election.

There is, however, yet another complicated wrinkle.

Were Adams to leave office fewer than 90 days before the mayoral primaries in June — so, essentially, after late March of 2025, there would be no special election. Instead, Williams would serve as the mayor until the election in November. At that point, the winner would take over the office immediately, according to the charter.