Jumaane Williams, a radical left-wing, anti-police activist, would become the next acting mayor of New York City by default if Mayor Eric Adams were to resign over federal criminal charges. Williams, 48, of Brooklyn, NY, cleared his entire schedule on Thursday in the wake of the indictment against Adams.

Williams, who has served as New York City's public advocate since 2019, has pushed for several progressive social justice causes in his nearly 15-year career in public service. He has held a position of power in the city since 2010 when he was first elected to the New York City Council, as per the New York Times. Despite both being Democrats, Williams' progressive agenda is starkly different from an administration run by Mayor Adams, a moderate lawmaker with a law enforcement background.

The public advocate has been embroiled in several controversies throughout his tenure. He has backed numerous anti-police bills and has positioned himself as a vocal leader critical of law enforcement, often stoking anti-police sentiment. Williams most recently supported a City Council measure that mandates police officers to complete comprehensive forms for even the most mundane interactions, such as assisting tourists with directions.

He has pushed to eliminate solitary confinement and was heavily involved and participated in the violent 2020 Black Lives Matter protests in the city, where he was detained by police numerous times. During that time, he accused former Democrat Mayor Bill de Blasio "of using his biracial family as a shield," the New York Post reported. He has also advocated slashing the NYPD budget, despite the department's historic staffing crisis.

Additionally, Williams, who self-identifies as an activist politician, has supported left-wing political violence and extremist transgender ideology.

In 2021, he found himself at the center of controversy when he allowed his staff members to work from home after COVID restrictions had been lifted. City council members later proposed legislation to eliminate the public advocate position, claiming it was a waste of taxpayer funds, but the proposal failed to garner enough votes.

Williams was reelected as public advocate in 2021 after securing 76 percent of the vote. He also ran a failed campaign for governor in 2022.

Mayor Adams was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery, receiving campaign contributions by foreign nationals, wire fraud, solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national, and bribery, according to the DOJ indictment unsealed in court on Thursday.

The mayor has maintained his innocence and believes he is being maliciously prosecuted by the Biden administration for speaking out against the illegal immigration crisis impacting the Big Apple and the rest of the country. Williams would replace Mayor Adams until a special election is held - which must be set within 80 days from the change in power - if Adams were to step down.