Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Eric Adams
A closer look at the most debated and controversial moments involving Eric Adams.
Eric Leroy Adams is the current mayor of New York City, assuming office in 2022. Prior to his political career, Adams served over 20 years in the New York City Police Department, retiring as a captain. He transitioned to politics, serving in the New York State Senate from 2006 to 2013, representing Brooklyn's 20th district. Subsequently, he was elected Brooklyn Borough President in 2013, making history as the first Black American to hold the role, and was re-elected in 2017. His career spans law enforcement and public service in New York City.
1993: Controversial comments in mayoral election
During the 1993 mayoral election, Eric Adams made a controversial comment about Herman Badillo's marriage, causing turmoil for David Dinkins, who ultimately lost the election.
1993: Sexual assault accusation
In 1993, Eric Adams was accused in a lawsuit of sexual assault by a former coworker while they were both city employees. The lawsuit also included accusations of battery, employment discrimination, retaliation, a hostile work environment, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
1993: Alleged Sexual Assault in Legal Complaint
In 1993, as detailed in a legal complaint, Adams allegedly drove a woman to a vacant lot and sexually assaulted her by soliciting oral sex in exchange for career advancement.
1997: Registered as Republican
In 1997, Eric Adams registered as a Republican, a move he later described as a protest against Democratic leadership.
2000: Racial Profiling Concerns
In 2000, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights said stop and frisk constituted racial profiling.
2006: NYPD Investigation
In 2006, Eric Adams was investigated by the NYPD for criticizing Mayor Michael Bloomberg in his capacity as a police officer, leading to charges of disseminating misinformation and speaking without permission. He retired from the police force shortly after.
2007: Supported Pay Raise for NY Lawmakers
In 2007, as a freshman state senator, Eric Adams supported a pay raise for New York lawmakers, saying "show me the money" during his speech.
February 2010: Voted Against Expelling Senator Hiram Monserrate
In February 2010, Eric Adams was one of eight New York Senators who voted against expelling Senator Hiram Monserrate after he was convicted of assault.
2014: One Brooklyn Fund Established
In 2014, Eric Adams established the One Brooklyn Fund, a nonprofit for community programs, which was later criticized for potentially serving Adams's public profile and allowing "pay to play" contributions. The Department of Investigation (DOI) investigated the fund in 2014.
2014: FBI Investigation of Philip Banks III
In 2014, Philip Banks III, who was later hired by Adams as deputy mayor for public safety, was subject to a federal investigation by the FBI.
2014: Alleged Misconduct as Brooklyn Borough President
In 2014, during his tenure as Brooklyn Borough President, Eric Adams allegedly received luxury travel and benefits from Turkish individuals, leading to a series of investigations in September 2024.
2016: DOI Investigation of Adams's Office
In 2016, the Department of Investigation (DOI) found that Eric Adams' office mistakenly licensed Brooklyn Borough Hall for a Mayor's Office event.
2019: Adams Makes Controversial Comments
In 2019, Eric Adams made comments that led to a public apology in 2022.
February 2020: Adams on Stop and Question
In February 2020, Eric Adams stated that stopping and questioning was a responsible form of policing.
November 20, 2020: Indoor Fundraiser Criticism
On November 20, 2020, Eric Adams attended an indoor fundraiser shortly after announcing his mayoral run, drawing criticism due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
October 2021: Vaccine Mandate Introduced
In October 2021, the vaccine mandate was introduced by Adams's predecessor but kept in place by Adams.
December 30, 2021: Brother Hired for Security Detail
On December 30, 2021, Bernard Adams began working as the head of Eric Adams's security detail in the NYPD, leading to accusations of nepotism.
February 14, 2022: City Workers Fired Over Vaccine Refusal
On February 14, 2022, 1,430 New York City municipal workers were fired for refusing COVID-19 vaccination.
February 2022: Questions About Veganism
In February 2022, questions arose about Adams's veganism after reports of him eating fish, to which he responded that he is "perfectly imperfect" and occasionally eats fish while generally following a plant-based diet.
February 2022: Video Leaks, Adams Apologizes
In early February 2022, a video from 2019 surfaced in which Eric Adams made controversial comments about his "cracker" colleagues, leading to an apology.
March 2022: Vaccine and Mask Mandates Ended/Modified
In March 2022, Eric Adams ended the city's vaccine mandate for indoor settings and mask mandate in public schools, while creating an exemption for athletes and performers.
2022: Medicare Advantage Plan Deal
In 2022, Adams and the Municipal Labor Committee (MLC) agreed on a deal that would move City retirees from traditional Medicare to a new, privately run Medicare Advantage plan.
February 2023: Remarks on Separation of Church and State
In February 2023, Eric Adams stated his disagreement with the notion of separation of church and state and criticized the Supreme Court's 1962 decision regarding school prayer.
March 2023: Plans for Office Building Conversion
In March 2023, the New York City Department of City Planning advanced plans to convert vacant office buildings into affordable housing, with Eric Adams proposing controversial "dormitory style accommodations".
June 23, 2023: Veto of Housing Voucher Legislation
On June 23, 2023, Eric Adams vetoed legislation to increase eligibility for housing vouchers, implementing part of the legislation via executive order.
June 28, 2023: Confrontation at Housing Town Hall
During a housing town hall on June 28, 2023, Eric Adams was confronted by a tenant advocate and responded with controversial remarks, refusing to apologize later.
July 13, 2023: Veto Overridden by City Council
On July 13, 2023, the City Council overrode Eric Adams's veto of the housing voucher legislation, marking the first veto override since the Bloomberg administration.
November 12, 2023: FBI Investigation Report
On November 12, 2023, The New York Times reported that the FBI's investigation of Adams was partly related to alleged influence by the Turkish government regarding its consulate in Manhattan.
November 2023: Lawsuit Accusation
In November 2023, Eric Adams faced a lawsuit alleging sexual assault from an anonymous former coworker from 1993, including additional claims of battery, employment discrimination, and creating a hostile work environment. Adams denied the accusations.
November 22, 2023: Sexual Assault Lawsuit Filed
On November 22, 2023, a Florida woman filed a sexual assault lawsuit against Adams under the New York Adult Survivors Act.
December 2023: United Federation of Teachers Lawsuit
In December 2023, the United Federation of Teachers filed a lawsuit against Eric Adams to prevent a $550 million cut to education funding.
2023: Medicare Deal Continued Controversy
In 2023, the deal from 2022 remained in place, the agreement between the Mayor and the MLC remained controversial, with many City retirees protesting.
2023: Netflix Documentary Appearance
In the 2023 Netflix documentary You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment, Adams claimed never to have used medication for his diabetes, contradicting his earlier writings.
January 30, 2024: City Council Overrides Veto
On January 30, 2024, the New York City Council overrode Mayor Adams' veto of the How Many Stops Act, which limits solitary confinement in city jails and requires detailed police documentation of public encounters.
March 18, 2024: Legal Complaint Filed
On March 18, 2024, a legal complaint was filed detailing alleged events in 1993, accusing Adams of sexual assault and other misconduct.
May 21, 2024: Charter Revision Commission Created
On May 21, 2024, Adams established a Charter Revision Commission to suggest amendments to the New York City Charter, leading to five proposals that will be voted on November 5.
September 2024: Investigations and Indictment
In September 2024, Eric Adams faced federal charges of bribery, fraud, and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations, marking him as the first NYC mayor charged with federal crimes while in office. He pleaded not guilty.
September 25, 2024: Adams Indicted in Sealed Case
On September 25, 2024, Eric Adams was indicted in a sealed case, prompting calls for his resignation from multiple politicians.
October 26, 2024: Defense of Donald Trump
On October 26, 2024, Eric Adams defended Donald Trump and criticized Vice President Harris, stating he did not believe Trump was a fascist.
February 10, 2025: DOJ Instructed to Drop Charges
On February 10, 2025, the Department of Justice under President Trump instructed federal prosecutors to drop charges against Adams due to concerns about publicity and interference with his ability to govern, prompting resignations and accusations of an illicit deal.
November 2025: Further Review of Adams Case
In November 2025, a further review of Adams’ case was to occur following the general election.
