New York Mayor Adams turns to an unlikely ally to dodge his indictment: Trump | Opinion
New York City Mayor Eric Adams might need a pardon if he loses his legal fight. He seems poised to offer up immigrants to President-elect Trump for it.
New York Mayor Eric Adams appears to be angling for a pardon from incoming President Donald Trump – and it could actually work. At a Monday news conference, the reelected president said he was considering taking action on behalf of the embroiled mayor, noting that "he was treated pretty unfairly."
"It seems like being upgraded in a plane many years ago,” Trump told reporters, referring to the travel perks Adams is accused of receiving from Turkish Airlines. “I know probably everybody here has probably been upgraded.”
His answer doesn’t exist in a vacuum – the mayor has been cozying up to the president-elect since he won reelection. In that time, Adams has said that he would potentially sign executive orders to loosen the city’s sanctuary laws, aiding Trump in what the president-elect says will be the “largest deportation operation in American history.”
If Trump does pardon Adams, it will come at the expense of New York City residents who deserve to see their mayor stand trial. It will also put the city’s undocumented migrants at risk of deportation if Adams holds up his end of this possible quid pro quo agreement.
Trump can help NY Mayor Eric Adams dodge this indictment
Adams faces five federal charges, including bribery, wire fraud and soliciting foreign campaign donations, namely from Turkish diplomats. He's accused of accepting luxury hotel rooms, meals and travel.
In exchange, the lawsuit alleges Adams pressured city officials to approve opening a new Turkish consular building despite safety concerns.
I still believe these are grounds for Adams to resign – and I’m not the only one. The majority of New Yorkers want him to step down, according to a New York Times/Siena College poll from October.
Unfortunately, the mayor doesn’t seem to be backing down. Adams denies everything and has pleaded not guilty to the federal charges against him.
Therefore, the only way for New Yorkers to get justice is to follow legal procedure – unless, of course, Trump pardons Adams.
Eric Adams and Donald Trump: the political team we don't need
In response to his legal woes, Adams has been trying to win favor with the president-elect. He has repeatedly talked about working with Trump.
A former Republican, Adams talked a couple of weeks ago about switching back to the GOP. He’s reportedly trying to score a ticket to the inauguration. Seems like an indicted politician trying to evade justice would fit right in with Trump's Republican Party.
Last week, the mayor met with Tom Homan, Trump’s incoming “border czar” best known for the family separation policy he implemented as head of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement during the first Trump administration.
“His goal is the same goal I have,” Adams said. “We cannot allow dangerous individuals to commit repeated violent acts of violence in our cities across America.”
Adams purports only to want to keep the city safe and says he has no ulterior motives when it comes to immigration. That’s just lip service. Of course, getting around the city's sanctuary laws will win the mayor favor with Trump. New York is the largest sanctuary city in the country.
More than 225,000 migrants have arrived in the city since 2022, and an estimated 672,000 undocumented immigrants live here.
If a mass deportation is set to take place, like Trump says, he will need Adams’ participation. The mayor seems game, even if it means potentially splitting up families and deporting people who have built their lives in New York City.
According to the city's data, 1 million residents live in households where at least one person is undocumented. New York City is home to 3 million immigrants, more than any other city in the United States.
New Yorkers should be wary of the mayor's potential ties to the Trump administration ‒ and fight for their neighbors when the time comes.
Follow Paste BN elections columnist Sara Pequeño on X, formerly Twitter, @sara__pequeno