NYC Mayor Eric Adams criminally charged, says he will not resign
NYC Mayor Eric Adams is accused of engaging “in a long-running conspiracy” related to campaign contributions from foreign donors and corporations.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams surrendered to federal authorities Friday after being indicted on five corruption charges for allegedly taking bribes and campaign contributions from foreigners.
Adams, 64, is set to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine Parker in Manhattan at noon. He will likely be asked to enter a plea.
Adams, whose administration has suffered numerous investigations, has denied wrongdoing and said he would fight the charges in court.
“I will continue to do my job as mayor,” Adams told reporters Thursday before the indictment was unsealed.
Adams faces five charges: conspiracy to committee wire fraud, wire fraud, bribery and two counts of solicitation of campaign contribution from a foreign national.
A grand jury indicted Adams on Tuesday and the charges were unsealed on Thursday. Federal prosecutors said Turkish diplomats and businesspeople illegally funneled money to Adams’ campaign and showered him with luxury travel perks, including rooms at opulent hotels and meals at high-end restaurants.
More: Eric Adams’ administration rife with scandalous allegations: What to know after indictment
Adams allegedly bilked the city’s public campaign finance program of $10 million and received $100,000 in free travel to France, China, Sri Lanka, India, Hungary, and Turkey, according to the indictment.
In exchange, Adams in 2021 pressured city officials to allow Turkey’s new 36-story consulate to open despite safety concerns, according to prosecutors.
The alleged scheme dates back to 2014, when Adams became Brooklyn borough president, prosecutors said. The illegal campaign contributions helped finance his 2021 campaign for mayor, prosecutors said.
“As Adams’ prominence and power grew, his foreign-national benefactors sought to cash in on their corrupt relationships with him,” the indictment said. “Adams agreed, providing favorable treatment in exchange for the illicit benefits he received.”
Adams, a former police officer who rose to the rank of captain, is the first of the city’s 110 mayors to be charged with a federal crime while in office.
New York Police Commissioner Eric Caban resigned on Sept. 12 after FBI agents seized his phone. Days later, Adams’ top legal adviser, Lisa Zornberg, stepped down.
