New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she would not use her power to remove New York City Mayor Eric Adams as he tried to fight a criminal indictment charging him with corruption, but proposed new oversight mechanisms over the mayor's office in an announcement on Thursday.

The governor of New York is empowered to remove the New York City mayor from office by both state law and the City Charter. In accordance with the City Charter, Hochul can remove Adams from office after providing him with a “copy of the charges and an opportunity to be heard in his defense.”

Instead, the governor plans to add a series of controls to the embattled mayor’s power over New York City, a person close to the governor said.