A growing number of elected officials in New York City have called on embattled Mayor Eric Adams to resign in the face of federal criminal charges, saying he is “unfit to serve and lead.”

In an indictment unsealed Thursday, federal prosecutors charged Adams with five counts of bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations. The news followed a series of federal investigations into the mayor and several of his top aides.

“Since the first scandals broke, the mayor has been determined to ‘stay focused, no distractions and grinding’, claiming that everything he does is for the people of this city. But no one can be focused on this constant stream of distractions: scandals, resignations, subpoenas, FBI raids and now damning indictments dating back a decade,” the NYC Progressive Caucus wrote in a statement.

“We have too many pressing issues that require steady, honest and progressive leadership. All he’s working on is bringing our city to a standstill.”

NEW YORK MAYOR ERIC ADAMS RESIGNED

New York Mayor Eric Adams holds a press conference at City Hall in June. (Adam Gray/Getty Images)

The city’s 18-member progressive caucus wrote that Adams’ tenure included an “alarming level of political cronyism, comparable to a system of patronage and cronyism not seen in nearly a century.”

“This is a crisis of his own making, a reflection of poor decision-making, failed leadership and disregard for the rule of law he sets forth,” it added. “No amount of scapegoating can distract from the serious and thorough nature of the federal investigation. Mayor Adams must resign.”

New York Mayor Eric Adams’ attorney, Alex Spiro, speaks during a press conference outside Gracie Mansion in New York on Thursday. (Rashid Umar Abbasi for Fox News Digital)

New York City Councilman Robert Holden, who is part of the conservative-leaning Common Sense Caucus, called for Adams’ resignation, saying he “cannot lead effectively with this cloud hanging over him.”

“Sad day for NYC when a sitting mayor is indicted on federal charges. While @NYCMayor is presumed innocent until proven guilty, there is no way he can effectively lead with this cloud hanging over him,” Holden wrote on X. “With the challenges we face, he must resign for the good of New Yorkers.”

Adams’ office is lashing out at an FBI employee who may have “improperly leaked details” of the corruption investigation

Councilwoman Linda Lee echoed Holden’s thoughts, saying that while Adams has the right to defend himself against the charges, he is “unfit to serve and lead.”

“Everyday New Yorkers should not have to worry about this kind of uncertainty and chaos we see from City Hall,” Lee wrote in a statement. “The mayor has the right to a fair trial and the right to defend himself against these charges, but not at the expense of the greatest city in the world. At this time, he is unfit to serve and lead and must resign immediately.”

New York Mayor Eric Adams speaks during a press conference outside Gracie Mansion on Thursday. (Rashid Umar Abbasi for Fox News Digital)

Councilmember Sandy Nurse focused on Adams’ law and order platform.

“Mayor Adams ran on a ‘law and order’ platform. Throughout his tenure, he never missed an opportunity to attack progressives and the left, accusing us of not being serious about community safety and crime,” Nurse said. “Meanwhile, his government is nothing but a mess of corruption, deceit and dysfunction.”

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‘It is impossible to effectively govern a city amid a constant stream of resignations, scandals and now indictments. And with the looming threat of another Trump presidency – which would be catastrophic for New York City – we need leadership that is strong, honest, and focused on solving our city’s most intractable problems. Above all, we need an executive who will put the city before him and his friends.”

New York Mayor Eric Adams attends a press conference in June. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

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The calls for Adams’ resignation come after federal prosecutors alleged Thursday that the 64-year-old illegally received campaign donations from foreign countries and corporations in exchange for influence for a decade.

Adams denied the allegations in a video statement, saying all charges against him are “completely false, based on lies” and insinuating that his criticism of the Biden administration’s disastrous border policies made him a target for retaliation.

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“The federal government did nothing because its broken immigration policies overloaded our shelter system without any help,” he said. “I put the people of New York above party and politics.”

Michael Ruiz of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.