**Rev. Al Sharpton Urges Gov. Hochul to Respect Due Process in Mayor Adams’ Case**

In a significant plea, Reverend Al Sharpton has asked Governor Kathy Hochul to resist the use of her executive authority to remove Mayor Eric Adams from office amidst his recent indictment. This request comes after Governor Hochul publicly considered her "options and obligations" regarding the matter following the U.S. Attorney's Office in Manhattan charging Mayor Adams with bribery and fraud.

Sharpton, an influential figure in New York, has generally supported Adams but remained relatively quiet in the immediate wake of the fresh charges. However, during his National Action Network rally on Saturday, he firmly spoke against removing Adams, emphasizing that such a move lacks historical precedent. "The governor should not be pressured into removing Eric Adams from being the mayor," Sharpton asserted.

Governor Hochul has the legal authority, under city and state laws, to remove the mayor. This power was last notably mentioned during former Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt's tenure, in relation to Mayor Jimmy Walker, who stepped down in 1932 amid corruption allegations before Roosevelt could act.

While Sharpton acknowledged the gravity of the charges against Adams, he insisted that the response should follow established protocols. He argued that Adams deserves due process, likening the situation to that of Senator Robert Menendez, who was not forced to resign until conviction despite grave charges and substantial evidence found in his possession.

Adams has maintained his innocence, but his stance has drawn criticism, especially after suggesting, without evidence, that his federal communications regarding the migrant crisis made him a "target." Sharpton dispelled these claims, stating on Saturday that he does not believe the Biden administration targeted Adams and cautioned against such divisive rhetoric.

Sharpton plans to convene a meeting of Black leaders to deliberate the situation, recognizing its complexities, particularly given the involvement of influential Black figures like Vice President Kamala Harris and the lead of the Southern District.

On the same day, Sharpton, with civil rights veteran Rev. Herbert Daughtry by his side, reiterated his call for allowing the judicial process to unfold naturally. "We're going to see where the evidence is, but we are not going to stand by silently and let Governor Hochul not know that some of us are saying: 'Do not change the process and the precedent,'" Sharpton declared.

Notably, Sharpton humorously remarked that former President Donald Trump's recent words of support for Adams were less than helpful, quipping, "If I was facing a federal trial, the last person I want to speak up for me is somebody convicted of 34 felonies."

In these trying times for Mayor Adams, Sharpton's support underscores a broader call for fairness and adherence to due process, reflecting deep-rooted principles crucial to the city’s political and judicial framework.