New York City Mayor Eric Adams refused to rule out the possibility that he might switch parties to become a Republican, and the team working for President-elect Donald Trump is amused by the politician's desperation.
“It’s kind of embarrassing, isn’t it?” a member of Trump’s presidential transition team told Rolling Stone. “How long until the actual begging and love letters start?”
The U.S. Justice Department indicted Adams in September on bribery and other charges. While he is innocent until proven guilty, the only person who can pardon him if he is found guilty is the incoming president.
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The idea of begging for a pardon has become somewhat of a running joke at Mar-a-Lago, the report continued.
"One incoming Trump administration official tells Rolling Stone that they and several of their colleagues have chuckled about how 'thirsty' Adams has seemed lately, with the Trump presidency on the horizon and with Adams’ federal corruption charges still hot," said the report.
Two sources told Rolling Stone that even Trump got in on the joke. Trump said that it appears Adams "really like[s]" him these days.
That said, the Trump team noticed that Adams criticized Vice President Kamala Harris and stayed silent on Trump.
Adams responded to the indictment by claiming he was being targeted for his politics and the weaponization of the Justice Department.
“President Biden and President-elect Donald Trump now agree on one thing: The Biden Justice Department has been politicized,” Adams said Tuesday. “Does that sound familiar? Rest my case.”
Former federal prosecutor for the Southern District of New York Jarrod Schaefer told Rolling Stone that Trump appears to favor pardoning people in the SDNY jurisdiction.
Trump has shown no hesitation in issuing pardons to people being prosecuted by the Southern District of New York. At last count, it was 14 people prosecuted by SDNY that he had issued pardons to, including people like [former top aide] Steve Bannon, who had yet to face trials. So I think that’s a very real possibility," said Schaefer.
Adams hasn't asked for a pardon or indicated that he needs one.