New York City is in shock as Mayor Eric Adams faces federal criminal charges, marking the first time in the city’s history that a sitting mayor has been indicted. Federal agents swarmed Gracie Mansion early Thursday morning, hours before prosecutors were set to unveil details of the indictment.

The 64-year-old mayor, who was elected nearly three years ago on a promise to curb crime in America’s most populous city, now finds himself at the centre of multiple corruption probes. Investigators are scrutinising whether Adams’ 2021 campaign received illegal foreign donations from Turkey, raising serious questions about the integrity of his administration.

The exact charges remain sealed, but insiders hint at a complex web of allegations involving Adams and his close circle. His chief fundraiser, Brianna Suggs, and several high-ranking officials, including his brother and Deputy Mayor Phil Banks, are reportedly entangled in the investigation.

Despite the mounting legal troubles, Adams has shown no intention of stepping down. In a defiant video statement released late Wednesday, he vowed to “fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and my spirit,” insisting that he is innocent and demanding an immediate trial to “let New Yorkers hear the truth.” The mayor also pushed back against calls for his resignation, stating, “I have been facing these lies for months. I can still lead this city while defending my name.”

The political fallout has been swift. Prominent New York Democrats, including U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have called for his resignation. “For the good of the city, he should step down,” she posted on social media, highlighting the growing chaos within City Hall, where a “flood of resignations and vacancies” is crippling the administration.

The scandal extends beyond Adams’ inner circle. Federal agents have seized electronic devices from several city officials, including the now-resigned Schools Chancellor David Banks, his fiancée and Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, and Acting Police Commissioner Thomas Donlon, whose homes were searched just last week.

As New Yorkers grapple with the gravity of the situation, Governor Kathy Hochul, a key Adams ally, has remained silent on the matter. However, she holds the power to remove Adams from office, which could thrust Public Advocate Jumaane Williams into the role of acting mayor.

The indictment comes at a critical juncture for Adams, who is preparing for a re-election campaign amid a swell of Democratic challengers. With the scandal deepening, the mayor’s political future and the fate of the city he governs hangs in the balance.

As the city braces for the unsealing of the indictment, one thing is clear: New York is in for a political earthquake, and the aftershocks could reshape its leadership for years to come.