Mayor Eric Adams waives this week's federal court appearance amid medical testing

Monday, January 27, 2025
Adams waives this week's federal court appearance amid medical testing
N.J. Burkett reports from City Hall.

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Mayor Eric Adams will have a number of doctors' appointments and undergo routine medical testing to determine why he is not feeling well.

Adams, who prides himself on his health, is suffering from an undisclosed or undiagnosed illness. Sources say Adams began feeling ill only recently.

"Over the last few days," said his spokesman. "Mayor Adams hasn't been feeling his best. As a result, this week, the mayor will have a number of doctors' appointments and undergo routine medical tests."

His spokesperson said the 64-year-old mayor is still making phone calls and conducting the city's business, but he won't be doing public events while taking care of his health.

The spokesperson later said in a statement that Mayor Adams is "doing well," and "appreciates the well wishes as he continues to rest and work remotely."

The mayor will not have his weekly off-topic Q&A news conference Tuesday, and his scheduled appearance Wednesday in his federal court case has been waived.

That hearing is about classified evidence.

"In the unlikely event he is unable to fully discharge his duties on any particular day," the administration expects First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer, the second-in-command at City Hall, to serve as "acting mayor."

If a mayor is temporarily unable to "discharge the powers and duties of the office," the public advocate Jumaane Williams is supposed to take over the mayoral reins with limited authority under local law.

"You know, right now, I want to make sure we're portraying as much confidence as possible in city government," Williams said. "I would say if it was me, I think the communication would be a little better-just to make sure we're pushing that confidence. But again, they can handle this, you know, a supervisor to handle how best they can and make sure that I'm portraying that we are all wishing for the mayor to be well as soon as possible."

Adams has faced past health battles. He was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2016, temporarily suffering vision loss and prompting a lifestyle change. He became a pescatarian, pivoting plant-based foods only to improve his health.

The mayor was spotted in the Soundview Houses in the Bronx Thursday night. Before that, he appeared Wednesday night at a townhall meeting in Corona, Queens, and earlier in that day, he was at a news briefing on gun seizures in Harlem. He also rode the L train Tuesday night to promote more police officers on subway trains.

He was supposed to deliver remarks at a ribbon-cutting event at the Altneu Synagogue on the Upper East Side on Sunday night, but canceled.

At this point, the only thing on the mayors public schedule for Monday was a daily morning meeting with senior administration officials.

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