New York's governor meets top political leaders as she weighs removing Mayor Eric Adams from office

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00:00This is being seen as a stress test of the rule of law.

00:03The astonishing events that have played out around New York City's mayor Eric Adams in

00:09recent days have heightened fears that Trump is trampling all over the rule of law.

00:14Last week, the US Department of Justice moved to drop criminal charges against Adams in

00:20what many regard as a blatant quid pro quo.

00:23Adams pleaded not guilty to corruption charges back in September.

00:27He denies allegations that he asked for the case to be dropped in exchange for supporting

00:32Trump's hardline immigration agenda.

00:34Well, on Wednesday, Mayor Adams is going to be facing a federal judge who will decide

00:38whether or not to grant the Justice Department's request to dismiss the corruption charges.

00:44This follows a week-long clash among government lawyers that led to resignations by several

00:48top prosecutors both here in New York City and in Washington, D.C., who refused to seek

00:54dismissal, one of them saying only a fool would comply with the order.

00:59While the head of New York City Council has called for Adams to resign, the governor is

01:04considering removing him from office.

01:07Several deputy mayors have said that they are going to quit.

01:10Now, remember that Adams, who is a former cop, was actually elected as a Democrat, but

01:16then he drifted towards the right, especially after Trump was elected and after Adams faced

01:22prosecution.

01:23Now, the city is heavily Democratic and now Adams is really seen here as an ally to Trump.

01:28He's even been flirting with the idea of becoming a Republican.

01:30A recent social media post from Trump in which he quoted French Emperor Napoleon encapsulates

01:36all of this.

01:37The quote was, he who saves his country does not violate any laws, essentially a totally

01:43dictatorial approach to the law.

01:45New Yorkers and legal experts are sounding the alarm, saying that both Trump and Adams

01:49are undermining the U.S. judicial system and American democracy.

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