Fraudulent Signatures Rock NYC Mayor Adams' Re-election Bid

A bombshell report reveals over 50 forged signatures on New York City Mayor Eric Adams' petition to run as an independent in the upcoming November election. The Gothamist uncovered the fraudulent signatures, including those of three deceased individuals and others who claim their signatures were forged without their consent.

While the nearly 50,000 signatures submitted by the Adams campaign far exceed the 7,500 required to qualify, this discovery casts a shadow on his campaign. The irregularities appear to stem from at least nine campaign workers who submitted over 5,000 signatures, with one worker collecting over 700 in a single day. Some signatures showed strikingly similar handwriting patterns.

The Adams campaign stated they expect hired contractors to follow the law and will conduct their own review. An attorney for Adams affirmed the mayor's lack of involvement in any illegal activity. Veteran election lawyer Jerry Goldfeder noted that while such instances aren't uncommon, they often lead to investigations and potential prosecutions.

This development adds another layer of complexity to the already intense mayoral race, which includes Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, former Governor Andrew Cuomo (running independently), Republican Curtis Sliwa, and ex-prosecutor Jim Walden, all vying for the leadership of the nation's largest city. The petition system's flaws are likely to face further scrutiny as candidates explore ways to navigate the ranked-choice primary system.

The news comes amidst heightened tensions following a recent tragic shooting in a midtown office building.

This situation highlights concerns about the integrity of the election process and the potential for abuse within signature gathering campaigns.