New York City Mayor Eric Adams is set to appear in federal court on Friday, facing five counts of criminal offenses, including bribery, wire fraud, and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations. The indictment, which was unveiled on Thursday, accuses Adams of accepting over $100,000 in illegal campaign funds and luxury travel benefits from Turkish businessmen and officials seeking his influence.
Adams, 64, a former police officer, was elected nearly three years ago on a platform of being tough on crime. However, the recent allegations have cast a shadow over his administration. Despite the serious charges, the mayor has denied any wrongdoing and dismissed calls for his resignation.
“I ask New Yorkers to wait to hear our defense before making any judgments. I follow the rules, I follow the federal law, I do not do anything that’s going to participate in illegal campaign activity,” Adams said at a press conference on Thursday.
The news conference was frequently interrupted by angry New York residents, some of whom called Adams a “disgrace” and demanded “justice.”
If convicted, the mayor could face up to 45 years in prison.
Allegations of Corruption and Bribery
The 57-page indictment outlines a decade-long scheme of corruption and bribery, which allegedly began during Adams’ tenure as Brooklyn borough president and continued after he became mayor. The document details extravagant international travel and lavish gifts that Adams allegedly accepted while trying to conceal the benefits from public disclosure.
In one example, an alleged text exchange between an Adams staffer and an airline manager revealed discussions about where the mayor should stay during a trip to Turkey.
When the airline manager suggested the Four Seasons hotel, the staffer responded, “It’s too expensive.”
The manager replied, “Why does he care? He is not going to pay.” The staffer then responded, “Super.”
Prosecutors claim that the same staffer asked the airline manager to charge Adams an artificially low price for his travel to conceal the favorable treatment.
“His every step is being watched right now,” the staffer allegedly said, suggesting the mayor be charged $1,000 for a flight to Turkey. “Let it be somewhat real.”
At a press conference on Thursday, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, accused Adams of developing relationships with foreign nationals to secure illegal funds for his 2021 campaign.
“In 2023, the mayor rekindled these corrupt relationships, seeking more illegal campaign contributions from some of the same foreign sources to support his re-election campaign,” Williams stated.
The indictment also claims that Adams used “straw donors” — a scheme where a person or entity uses others to evade campaign finance limits — to funnel illegal donations from foreign entities.
His campaign reportedly applied for and received more than $10 million in NYC funds intended to match small-dollar contributions from city residents.
Calls for Resignation and Political Repercussions
New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who has the authority to remove the mayor from office, said she was reviewing the charges.
“I’m going to take the time I need to review this indictment, see what’s embedded in this, but my number one responsibility is to make sure the people of New York City and state of New York are served,” Governor Hochul said.
Several prominent New York Democrats have called for Adams to step down, including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Others, like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, have stopped short of calling for his resignation, emphasizing that Adams is entitled to the presumption of innocence.
The White House also weighed in on the situation. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre denied any connection between the charges and ongoing political disputes over immigration.
“DOJ is handling this case independently,” she told reporters on Thursday.
A Troubled Administration
Since taking office in January 2022, Adams and his administration have faced increasing scrutiny. Last year, the FBI raided the home of his chief fundraiser, Brianna Suggs, and other members of his campaign as part of an investigation into whether he received illegal campaign contributions from the Turkish government and other foreign sources.
In recent weeks, the administration has been rocked by the resignation of several top officials as investigations intensified. Among those who have left are the police commissioner, the health commissioner, and the mayor’s chief counsel. New York City Schools Chancellor David Banks also announced his plans to resign just weeks after federal investigators seized his phones during a search of the home he shares with his partner, Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright.
The mayor, who once promised to bring stability and safety to the city, now finds himself at the center of a legal and political storm that could define his legacy.