Hochul told Adams to clean house in private call but has not asked him to resign

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul told Mayor Eric Adams to clean house during a private phone call with the embattled mayor this past week, according to multiple sources familiar with the call.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul told Mayor Eric Adams to clean house during a private phone call with the embattled mayor this past week, according to multiple sources familiar with the call. Hochul did not ask Adams to resign, but she made it clear Adams needs to work to regain the trust of New Yorkers, the sources said. “I’ve talked to the mayor about what my expectations are, and I don’t give out details of private conversations,” Hochul, a Democrat, told reporters Monday. Hochul’s remarks track with what she has said publicly after the Democratic mayor was charged last week. Adams is facing five federal counts of bribery, corruption, wire fraud and soliciting and accepting donations from foreign nationals. He has pleaded not guilty. Sources familiar with the calls said Hochul spoke with Adams Thursday evening before she publicly released a statement saying Adams should “review the situation” and find a path forward that would reassure New Yorkers they will be well served by their leaders. Since then, the governor has also told Adams he should dismiss aides in his administration who have been wrapped up in investigations, sources familiar with the conversation told CNN. The aides include Deputy Mayors Sheena Wright and Phil Banks and senior adviser Tim Pearson, who resigned from his post Monday, all of whom have been searched by federal investigators.