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Mayor Eric Adams, 64, has been indicted by a grand jury on charges connected to a federal probe. The New York Post was among the first publications to break the story with the New York Times first to report the historic indictment is expected to be unsealed Thursday by US Attorney Damian Williams.
"I always knew that if I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target – and a target I became," Adams said in a statement to the BBC.
"If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit."
Adams has said he has no intention of stepping down and is permitted to continue serving as mayor.
Gov. Kathy Hochul has the power to remove him, however, that is deemed as highly unlikely.
A betting market on whether Adams does step down voluntarily is likely to be open by Thursday.
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams would assume the role of Mayor in that scenario and be placed in charge of setting up a special election. The special election would only be set if it’s 90 days before the upcoming primary election that’s on June 24, 2025,
Williams, a progressive Democrat, has been the public advocate since 2019.
BetOnline will begin offering odds on the Next Mayor of New York regardless of whether Adams elects to step down voluntarily.
The reported charges come less than a year after federal agents seized Adams' electronic devices and searched the home of Brianna Suggs, his chief fundraiser.
It was later revealed that the US attorney's office in Manhattan was looking into whether Adams' 2021 mayoral campaign team conspired with the government of Turkey to funnel illegal donations into the campaign.
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