NYC Mayor Eric Adams Declares “Deep State” Is Real, Cites Own Prosecution as Evidence of Unelected Power Brokers

By: Fern Sidman

In a revealing and provocative appearance on the “Flagrant” podcast this week, New York City Mayor Eric Adams openly endorsed a controversial theory long embraced by political outsiders: the existence of a “deep state” — a powerful, entrenched network of unelected officials who wield enduring influence over U.S. governance, regardless of who holds elected office. As reported by Fox News Digital on Friday, Adams not only embraced the idea of a permanent bureaucratic apparatus but also drew from his own legal battles as a case study in what he views as the unchecked power of federal institutions.

“I don’t want to sound [like a] conspiracy theor[ist], but there’s a permanent government,” Adams told podcast host Andrew Schulz. “There are people that see presidents and mayors come and go. Their attitude is, ‘We’ll wait you out.’”

The comments come just days after Adams announced his departure from the Democratic Party, launching a reelection campaign as an independent — a bold move that may further intensify tensions between the mayor and federal prosecutors who once pursued criminal charges against him.

Adams’ remarks on the podcast underscore a dramatic shift in both political tone and party alignment. As the Fox News Digital report noted, this week Adams formally declared his intention to leave the Democratic Party and run for a second term as an independent candidate. The move comes after months of political strain and legal scrutiny — most notably a now-dismissed federal bribery case brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY).

The case, which stemmed from accusations that Adams solicited improper campaign contributions and luxury travel from Turkish nationals and other foreign actors, was dismissed with prejudice on Tuesday — meaning it cannot be refiled. The dismissal came at the request of the Trump-era Justice Department, a decision Adams views as vindication of his claims that the SDNY acted beyond its authority.

Fox News Digital reported that during the podcast, Adams singled out the SDNY for what he described as rogue prosecutorial behavior, citing it as a prime example of how deep-state forces function with impunity.

“Now imagine the Southern District of New York — that’s one of the most powerful U.S. Attorney’s offices,” Adams said. “In their mind, they said, ‘We’re sovereign.’ You know what that means. They don’t have to answer to anyone… not the president, not the U.S. Attorney in Washington, not the attorney general. They believe they’re a sovereign entity.”

Referring to SDNY prosecutors as unelected and unaccountable, Adams added, “You’re not elected. You know what I’m saying? Imagine an entity believing they don’t have to answer to anyone,” as was reported by Fox News Digital.

His comments reflect a growing sentiment, particularly among political figures under legal scrutiny, that elite institutions in Washington and New York operate autonomously from democratic oversight—a key premise of the “deep state” theory.

In defending his views, Adams praised Kash Patel, a Trump official who has become a leading voice in efforts to expose what he and other conservatives describe as institutional bias within U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies, according to the information provided in the Fox News Digital report. Patel’s 2023 book, “Government Gangsters: The Deep State, the Truth, and the Battle for Our Democracy”, earned glowing commentary from Adams.

“Kash was in the [Department of Defense]. He was in the FBI. He prosecuted terrorists,” Adams said. “So he comes with this wealth of knowledge, and the way he breaks it down, it’s just unbelievable. What this ‘deep state’ is about and why it’s so important for Americans that we cannot have a weaponizing of our prosecutorial powers.”

When Schulz challenged the phrase as overused, Adams was resolute. “It’s not used too much. It’s real, brother,” the mayor said flatly.

Adams’ rhetoric echoes the language more often heard from populist conservatives than from urban Democratic mayors. Fox News Digital reported that his departure from the Democratic Party, combined with his endorsement of deep state rhetoric and support for Patel’s narrative, suggests a potential realignment of his political identity — and possibly his constituency.

Though Adams has long styled himself as a law-and-order Democrat and former NYPD captain, his growing frustrations with federal law enforcement and prosecutorial bodies appear to have pushed him into alignment with a broader populist critique of American governance. As the Fox News Digital report highlighted, this is a notable development for a mayor of New York City — a traditionally liberal stronghold — who is now espousing views that would be more at home in a Trump rally than on the City Hall steps.

Whether this move is rooted in personal vindication, political calculation, or genuine ideological transformation remains to be seen. However, the timing of Adams’ podcast remarks — coming just after the dismissal of the case against him and his announcement to run as an independent — suggests a carefully calculated pivot.

His claim that unelected officials are subverting democratic processes will likely resonate with voters disillusioned with traditional institutions — a group that cuts across party lines in today’s political climate. At the same time, his comments may draw criticism from progressives and Democrats who view “deep state” rhetoric as a dangerous, conspiratorial trope designed to delegitimize rule-of-law institutions.

Adams’ embrace of “deep state” rhetoric and his harsh critique of federal prosecutors represent a stunning departure from conventional Democratic narratives. As the Fox News Digital report noted, his commentary is already fueling debate over the balance of power between elected officials and career bureaucrats — and about the political future of a mayor who now sees himself as an outsider, despite being the highest-ranking official in America’s largest city.