Former New York Gov. David Paterson (D) slammed calls from officials urging New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) to resign following a five-count criminal indictment against him stemming from a federal corruption investigation.
“I think it’s really outrageous. Some of these people who have been … telling the mayor he needs to leave. He needs to leave and he hasn’t even had a trial? Who are these people? They certainly shouldn’t be living in America,” Paterson told John Catsimatidis on “Cats Roundtable” on WABC 770 AM on Sunday.
While most Democrats have refrained from telling Adams to step down, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) are among those who have called for his resignation.
In the interview, Paterson praised current New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) — who has stopped short of calling for Adams’s ouster — for telling Adams to “clean house,” a nod toward a “private” call that Hochul reportedly had with the mayor where she asked Adams to get his internal affairs in order, according to CNN.
“It’s clear that Governor Hochul has told the mayor he’s got to clean house, meaning get anybody who is under suspicion or under investigation out of his office,” Paterson said.
He added that it’s the “most dynamic demonstration of leadership” he’s seen her take.
“What’s clear is that Gov. Hochul, who could have just stepped aside and let the process go on, has decided to be a participant. She is now monitoring everything that’s going on. This surprises me considerably,” Paterson said.
“It is the most dynamic demonstration of leadership that the governor has taken in her time,” he added, saying “my hat is off to her today for allowing herself to use the public officers’ law and the New York City Charter to involve herself in monitoring how the city’s being run these days.”
Adams was charged with wire fraud, foreign contribution solicitation and bribery, and has denied allegations of wrongdoing. He has insisted that he will not resign from his position as mayor.
