House Republicans Hold Back on Attacking Eric Adams Amid Trump Conviction Concerns
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In battleground districts, House Republicans are eager to target a prominent Democratic figure accused of corruption. However, they’re holding back due to their alignment with former President Donald Trump, according to a recent Politico report.
New York Republicans find themselves in a tricky spot, with the opportunity to attack New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who faces federal fraud and bribery charges. Under different circumstances, he would be an easy target. But, as insiders revealed to Politico, they’re cautious of reminding voters about Trump’s own legal battles, including his criminal conviction. “New York House Republicans have an easy target in criminally indicted Eric Adams,” wrote Emily Ngo. “But criminally convicted Donald Trump stands in their way.”
The charges against Adams surfaced just months after Trump was found guilty of falsifying business records to hide hush money payments made to a porn star before the 2016 election. Both Trump and Adams have pleaded not guilty. However, Trump has managed to spin his conviction into a narrative of political persecution, while Adams’s favorability ratings have plummeted, particularly in six critical battleground seats that may determine which party controls the House in 2025.
Despite this, Republicans are hesitant to attack Adams’s most vulnerable point—the allegations that he accepted bribes from Turkish officials. An anonymous Republican congressional campaign aide explained the dilemma to Politico: “Once you start getting to the charges against him and whether they disqualify him for office, the next logical question would be whether Trump should leave the race because of his charges.”
The report also indicates that Democrats are fully aware of why Republicans haven’t made Adams their main target. “They know they’re all supporting a convicted felon for the presidency,” a Democratic House campaign aide. “Republicans are on the ballot with Trump. Democrats aren’t on the ballot with Adams.”
With the 2024 election cycle heating up, this strategic restraint reveals a delicate balancing act for Republicans. On one hand, they have a clear opportunity to exploit a scandal involving a high-profile Democrat. On the other, attacking Adams risks drawing attention to Trump’s own legal troubles, potentially backfiring and alienating voters in swing districts.
For now, it seems Republicans are opting to tread lightly, avoiding a full-scale assault on Adams to keep the focus away from Trump’s controversies. As both parties navigate this charged atmosphere, the question remains: will Republicans find a way to leverage Adams’s troubles without inviting comparisons to Trump’s legal challenges, or will they continue to play it safe as election day approaches?
