I was at NYC court for the Trump trial on sexual abuse. Mayor Eric Adams’ arraignment was more of a circus

Not even Donald Trump could summon a frenzied crowd outside of the federal courthouse in New York City like Eric Adams did Friday when the mayor pleaded not guilty to the five criminal charges he’s facing.

A sea of broadcast cameras, lighting equipment and reporters filled the sidewalk Friday morning in front of the courthouse. They also packed the area across the street – it was more than the amount present atTrump’s defamation trial with E. Jean Carroll in January.

During the Trump case, the sidewalk across the street was filled with members of the media during that trial and even on the busiest day – verdict day – the sidewalk directly in front of the building was still navigable. New Yorkers did not seem to care to show up to see the action unfold outside of the federal building. Granted, it was freezing at the time. But even those who wandered by refused to stop to snap a photo or ask questions.

Not today.

On Friday, runners who, seemingly unintentionally, ran into the crowd stopped their jog to whip out their phones and record the action.  Police barricades, holding back New Yorkers who turned up to see their mayor arraigned, stretched up and down the street.

No, the mayor’s 8:45 a.m. arrival time for a noon arraignment was still not early enough to avoid the craze around his criminal allegations.

He is, after all,the talk of the town – not that he minds.

Adams seems completely unfazed by the mass attention. He rolled with Friday afternoon’s court proceedings as if it were an everyday occurrence, albeit an inconvenient one.

Sporting a typical white button-down and dark suit jacket, he arrived early at the courthouse, and subsequently, the courtroom. Something the former president never did.

By the time the general