Many Democrats representing the Empire State have provided dry responses when asked about Adams’ charges being dismissed. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, both New Yorkers, offered no substantial comments. 

“No reaction at this point in time. The people of New York City will make a determination as to who is best positioned to lead the city of New York forward,” Jeffries said.

FULL LIST OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS, ACTIONS, AND PROCLAMATIONS TRUMP HAS MADE AS PRESIDENT

Schumer did not offer comments Tuesday and his office did not respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment.

Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) was asked repeatedly at a Tuesday press conference whether Adams was morally compromised and if he could be trusted to make decisions with the best interests of the city in mind.

“I truly do not know,” she said, adding that he needed to take steps to “make sure that people have confidence” in him.

Hochul does have the power to remove Adams from his post, but she said would not use that tool as she believes undoing the votes of those who elected him “does not feel like something that’s very democratic.”

With the New York City mayoral primary four months away, Adams has lost some support from elected officials. Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) already endorsed New York state Sen. Zellnor Myrie.

In a spoken statement addressing the DOJ’s move and facing low approval ratings, Adams said he “will restore the faith in those who have lost it in me.” 

There are currently seven candidates running in the June primary. Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who resigned from the governor’s office in 2021 after sexual misconduct allegations, is also considering entering the race in the coming weeks.

Last year, Adams was indicted on five counts of bribery conspiracy, fraud, and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations as prosecutors alleged he fast-tracked the approval of a new Turkish Consulate in Manhattan. The order from Emil Bove, the Justice Department’s acting No. 2 official, to dismiss these charges does not clear Adams of wrongdoing. 

In the weeks since Trump won the election, Adams has been seen multiple times with Trump and has been somewhat supportive of his presidency, perhaps in hopes he would see a pardon or the trial would never come to fruition. 

Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY), who represents a New York City congressional district, told Politico that “it’s an obvious quid pro quo” between Trump and Adams, adding, “in effect, the mayor has to watch what he’s doing.”

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), who also represents a New York City congressional district, said the DOJ’s order “creates a very significant concern … as to how that could potentially be leveraged.”

Rev. Al Sharpton said he would hold a meeting in the coming days with Black leaders, including Rep. Gregory Meeks and Jeffries to discuss “all options,” including whether to push Hochul to remove Adams from office.

“The president is holding the city and the mayor hostage,” he said. “We cannot be in a state of being political hostages.”