NEW YORK (Diya TV) — New York City Mayor Eric Adams turned a legal victory into an unintentional book promotion for FBI Director Kash Patel, whose controversial 2023 title Government Gangsters: The Deep State, the Truth and the Battle for Our Democracy saw a dramatic surge in sales after Adams mentioned it multiple times in public appearances.
Days after federal bribery charges against him were dropped, Adams used his platform not only to defend his integrity but to encourage New Yorkers to read Patel’s book — a political memoir and manifesto that argues a “deep state” within the federal government targets political outsiders. The book had received a largely negative reception from critics when first released, with many dismissing its core premise as conspiracy-driven.
During a celebratory press conference following the dismissal of the charges, Adams surprised reporters by pivoting to Patel’s book. “I suggest everyone read Government Gangsters,” he said, according to The New York Times, which first reported the story. The mayor didn’t stop there. Over the next 24 hours, he repeated the recommendation during a TV interview, a press briefing with the NYPD, and a guest spot on the Flagrant podcast.
The impromptu endorsements had a measurable impact. U.S. print sales of Government Gangsters jumped from 228 to 2,019 copies within a week — a nearly 800% increase, according to sales data cited by The New York Times. It marked the book’s highest weekly total since its initial October 2023 release and pushed it to No. 11 on Amazon’s “best-selling” nonfiction list. It also made its debut on The New York Times nonfiction bestseller list at No. 14.
Written by Patel — an ardent Trump supporter and first Indian American to lead the FBI — the book accuses career officials in U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies of undermining elected leaders through coordinated efforts. It revisits Patel’s long-standing claims about the so-called “Russia hoax” and suggests the FBI played a complicit role in the events surrounding the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
While the book has been embraced in conservative circles, its sudden popularity in New York political discourse raised eyebrows. Adams, a Democrat known for his centrist leanings and tough-on-crime stance, has not previously aligned himself with the kinds of views espoused in Government Gangsters. Yet on Flagrant, he appeared to echo Patel’s warnings, speaking about the existence of a “permanent government” that operates behind the scenes — language similar to Patel’s central thesis.
Adams has not elaborated on whether he agrees with all aspects of the book, but emphasized its resonance with his experience fighting what he describes as an unfair investigation. “It opened my eyes to some of the things happening behind closed doors,” he said.
