Mayor Eric Adams is continuing to insist he is not stepping down amid growing calls for him to resign. 

“No one wants to go through this, but the reality is it’s not about quitting. It’s about stepping up and continue to deliver for the city," he said.

What You Need To Know

  • Mayor Eric Adams is doubling down on his intent to not step down amid his federal indictment

  • The mayor is facing growing calls to resign amid his federal corruption case that includes charges of fraud, bribery and soliciting illegal donations

  • Adams said he is in conversation with the governor, who has the power to remove him from office, but remains focused on delivering for New Yorkers

The defiance came as Adams tried to show that he was focusing on his day job on Monday. 

He first attended a graduation and promotion ceremony for sanitation workers, followed by a press conference to reassure New Yorkers about the cleanliness of drinking water in the city. 

Adams said even though he has many detractors, he also has supporters. 

“Are you also going to acknowledge that there are people saying, 'Eric, hang in there.' So this is New York, you guys have heard me say this throughout my time in office, 8.3 million people, 35 million opinions," he said.

“The countless number of people who have called me, text me, stopped me on the street say, 'Keep doing what you're doing, Eric,'" he continued.

Adams is the first mayor in modern city history to be arraigned on federal corruption charges. 

The mayor is facing five charges including conspiracy, wire fraud, bribery and soliciting illegal foreign donations. 

“Because if I send the wrong message to New Yorkers, that tough times mean you disappear or you abdicate your responsibilities, that's the wrong message. I’ve done nothing wrong. Time will prove that and people will look back at this moment and say, 'We are glad we gave this mayor the opportunity to do the work he’s doing,'" Adams said. 

Meanwhile, Adams says he is in contact with Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has the power to remove him from office. 

The mayor didn’t go into detail about those conversations.

“The goal is to continue to show that we are going in the right direction, and we are going to continue that," Adams said. “I’m excited about continuing to be the mayor and doing the work that I’ve done in the last two years and four months.” 

The mayor’s next court date is on Wednesday, at which time his defense attorney Alex Spiro will move to dismiss the case.