Mayor Adams has been the beneficiary of two lines of argument in recent weeks and months. The first, repeated many times in interviews and press conferences, is that New Yorkers shouldn't be disturbed that their elected executive is under federal investigation, indictment, and prosecution, that indeed it's silly to suggest he resign, because the mayor remains completely focused on his work on behalf of city residents. His lawyers are handling the criminal stuff, and he is undistracted, focused, and grinding on delivering for New Yorkers and keeping them safe.
"Ten months ago, when my phones were removed, we have not gone backwards," Adams declared defiantly when his indictment was unsealed in September. "We have not stood still. We showed how we operate during difficult times…The point person is Eric Adams. I'm the mayor of the City of New York. I have a competent team of deputy mayors, a competent team of people who are going to move forward."
The other argument, deployed by the mayor's defense team and Trump's Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, who wants the charges against the mayor dismissed, is that the prosecution of Adams has severely hampered his ability to do the people's work, and indeed has put the lives and physical safety of all New Yorkers in acute jeopardy.
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