NEW YORK (WABC) — Even before the breaking news on Wednesday night that New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted in a federal corruption investigation, according to sources familiar with the matter, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called for Adams’ resignation.

In a statement posted to “X” on Wednesday, Ocasio-Cortez said, “I fail to see how Mayor Adams can continue to govern New York City” amid the wave of resignations and investigations into his administration’s top brass.

“The flood of layoffs and vacancies threatens the function of government,” she said. “Non-stop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain qualified administration. For the good of the city, he should resign.”

Mayor Adams then responded to Ocasio-Cortez by saying, “Anyone who self-righteously claims that people accused of serious crimes should not be in jail and now says that the second black mayor of New York City should resign because of rumors and innuendo — without a single charge having been filed — is the height of hypocrisy.”

Adams added that he is “leading the city to protect it from exactly that kind of false politics” and that he will “stay and fight” for the people of the city, “no matter what.”

After learning of the charges, Senator John Liu also called on Adams to resign.

“However, the people of New York City need a mayor who can devote his full time and energy to getting the city back on track, including recruiting and retaining top leaders for the city. Mayor Adams simply cannot do that in the foreseeable future and must, for the good of all New Yorkers, resign immediately,” Liu said.

Several members of the New York City Council again called for his resignation.

“New Yorkers deserve better than the chaos and corruption they see in our city government. Our children, our families, our neighbors deserve better,” said NYC Council Member Shekar Krishnan. “Mayor Adams has already proven himself unfit and incapable of leading from City Hall. He will absolutely not be able to lead from a courtroom. He must resign.”

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Councilman Robert Holden said it’s a sad day for the city.

“While he is presumed innocent until proven guilty, he cannot lead effectively with this cloud hanging over his head. Given the challenges facing our city, he must step down for the good of New Yorkers,” he said.

Those running for mayor are also calling on Adams to resign.

“The mayor must resign for the good of the city. His legal battle is not our battle,” said Scott Stringer.

Jessica Ramos called news of the charges “a great betrayal.”

“The mayor has a fundamental responsibility to be honest with New Yorkers. That is the first and most important part of the job. So we cannot and must not ignore these allegations of corruption. If they are convicted, it would be a grave abuse of power and a betrayal of voters, taxpayers and working families,” she wrote in a statement.

New York City Auditor General Brad Lander also released a statement calling on Adams to resign.

“Trust in public institutions — particularly City Hall — is essential to the functioning of our local democracy and to the flourishing of our city. The hardworking people of New York City deserve a city government and leadership they can trust. Right now, they don’t have that,” Lander said. “The most appropriate path forward is for him to step down so New York City can regain the full focus that her leadership requires.”

Adams is the first mayor in New York City history to be indicted while still in office. If he were to resign, he would be replaced by the city’s public advocate, Jumaane Williams, who would then schedule a special election.

A spokesperson for Jumaane Williams released a statement saying, “The news of this indictment is incredibly serious in itself. As the facts emerge, the Public Advocate will have more to say to the people of New York City. Right now, he is focused on how best to ensure New Yorkers regain confidence, certainty and stability in city government.”

Gov. Kathy Hochul has the power to remove Adams from office. Hochul’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday evening.

Earlier on Wednesday, New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams continued to voice her support for the mayor when asked by Eyewitness News whether she believed he could still run the city.

“Yes, I do, and I think that’s all I want to say in response to that.”

These sentiments were shared in Washington by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

“Mayor Adams is doing his utmost in one of the toughest jobs in the world: he wants to remain focused on serving the needs of the people of New York City,” Jeffries said.

Mayor Adams is under scrutiny as federal investigators investigate donations to his 2021 campaign.

This investigation appears to be expanding and follows grand jury subpoenas issued by federal prosecutors in July to members of his administration, including the mayor.

The mayor turned over his own phones last November as part of a separate federal investigation into whether his 2021 campaign received illegal donations from citizens and government officials in Turkey.

Eyewitness News has confirmed that the investigation includes not only Adams’ ties to Turkey, but also to Israel, Qatar, China, South Korea and the former Soviet republic of Uzbekistan, the only country of the six that Adams has not visited.

The big question investigators are trying to answer is whether his 2021 mayoral campaign colluded with the Turkish government to receive illegal foreign donations, and whether pressure was put on the fire department to approve a new skyscraper-topped Turkish consulate despite security concerns.

The list of people who have left his administration is also growing. The latest is David Banks, the chancellor of New York City Schools, who announced Tuesday that he will retire at the end of the calendar year.

Banks officially named Melissa Ramos as New York City’s next education chancellor on Wednesday, stressing that he was retiring, not resigning.

“First of all, after 40 years I’m tired,” he said.

Banks was embraced by his fiancée, First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, in what is reportedly their first public appearance together since the FBI seized their cellphones and laptops exactly three weeks ago on Wednesday.

Banks is now the fourth official to resign this month. Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan announced that he, like Banks, will leave at the end of the year. Police Commissioner Edward Caban resigned after his phones were seized, and Lisa Zornberg, the mayor’s chief lawyer, abruptly resigned after sources say her legal advice was ignored.

The scope of the investigation is unprecedented in City Hall’s recent history. It focuses broadly on the NYPD’s nightlife enforcement practices and its interference in the awarding of city contracts. The FBI has also seized electronics belonging to David Banks’ brother, Deputy Mayor Phil Banks, and a third Banks brother, private consultant Terence Banks and top Adams adviser Timothy Pearson.

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