Eric Adams charged with taking bribes and foreign campaign contributions

Eric Adams, the mayor of New York City, faces accusations of taking bribes and receiving unlawful campaign funds from foreign entities following a formal indictment against the polemic head of one of the largest cities in the world.

In a five-count criminal indictment, US prosecutors claim that while serving as mayor, Adams "pursued and accepted unethical valuable perks, including lavish international trips, from affluent foreign business individuals and at least one official from the Turkish government who aimed to gain influence over him."

Adam faces several criminal charges, including conspiring to commit wire fraud and accepting campaign donations from foreign nationals, as well as wire fraud and soliciting contributions from foreign individuals.

The complaint highlights the travels that Adams and his partner undertook to Turkey, India, and Ghana with Turkish Airlines, during which they often stayed in high-end hotels. As a public official, Adams was required to report these trips to the government. Additionally, it mentions campaign contributions received from Turkish officials via a network of "straw" donors.

The government claims that Adams failed to reveal the travel perks he received in the yearly financial reports he had to submit as a New York City employee. They allege that he occasionally paid a small amount to give the impression that he was covering the cost of travel that was actually significantly reduced.

Prosecutors claim that Adams “produced and directed others to produce fake documentation that misleadingly indicated he had either paid or intended to pay for travel perks that were actually complimentary. He also erased messages with those involved in his wrongdoing.”

In September 2021, just two months prior to his election as Mayor of New York, prosecutors claim that Turkish officials reached out to him regarding a debt. They supposedly informed Adams that it was time for him to repay a Turkish official by applying pressure on the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) to expedite the process of opening a new 36-story Turkish consulate building, which had not yet undergone a fire inspection, in time for an important visit from Turkey’s president.

The indictment highlights that the building near the UN would not have passed an FDNY inspection at that time. According to the document, “In return for complimentary travel and various related bribes in 2021 and 2022 set up by the Turkish official, Adams complied with the requests.”

Just before the prosecutors announced the charges in a press conference, Adams held his own event. He was accompanied by family members and religious leaders, alongside demonstrators who were demanding his resignation.

Adams maintained his innocence, stating, "I urge New Yorkers to be patient and listen to our defense." He went on to say, "Anyone who knows me understands that I adhere to the campaign regulations and the law." However, as the press conference concluded, he left amidst shouts of "Resign! Resign! Resign!" from a group of protesters.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams stated that Adams had seriously violated public trust by accepting more than $100,000 in high-end travel perks without reporting them. He also sought unlawful campaign donations from Turkish officials as recently as last year and engaged in "corrupt official actions" related to the approval of the Turkish consulate.

The mayor, according to Williams, repeatedly overstepped significant boundaries.

"Having a public position is a privilege, and we believe Mayor Adams has misused that privilege and violated the law. These laws are meant to guarantee that officials like him prioritize serving the community, rather than catering to the highest bidder, foreign interests, or outside powers," Williams stated.

“The investigation is still ongoing,” he said, assuring that additional individuals would be held responsible.

If found guilty, Adams might face a five-year sentence for conspiracy, another five years for trying to obtain campaign donations from foreign sources, and up to 20 years for wire fraud. Prosecutors argue that by hiding illegal donations, his mayoral campaign from 2021 was able to access over $10 million in public matching funds.

The U.S. attorney also made efforts to address concerns that the charges were filed by the justice department due to Adams' criticism of the Biden administration's southern border policy, which he has labeled a "disaster" and argued has resulted in an influx of migrants in New York.

"We're not concentrating on political parties, whether it's the right or the left," Williams explained. "Our main concern is simply about what is right and what is wrong."

This is a significant turning point for the ex-police officer, who was elected on a strict anti-crime platform. Throughout his time in politics, he has been involved in various controversies and has become a divisive figure among those on the left.

Adams is the first mayor of New York City, while still holding office, to face criminal charges.

Numerous local politicians in the city have demanded that he step down, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the left-leaning congresswoman from the Bronx. She holds significant sway both in the city and within the national Democratic party.

Ocasio-Cortez stated that following the news of the indictment and the recent resignations of numerous city officials, such as the police commissioner, she struggles to understand how Mayor Adams can remain in charge of New York City.

"For the benefit of the city, he ought to step down," she stated.

After the indictment was announced late Wednesday evening, Adams responded with a bold video message. "I always understood that standing firm for the people of New York would make me a target—and that's exactly what happened," Adams stated. "If formal charges are brought against me, I maintain my innocence and will confront this challenge with all the strength and determination I have."

He promised to remain in his position. "I've been dealing with these falsehoods for months, but the city has kept moving forward," Adams stated. "Let me be clear: you chose me to guide this city, and I will do just that."

The charges came after several months of intense examination, during which some of his top advisors and supporters were investigated by federal authorities. Prosecutors started looking closely at his close associates. Just a few weeks ago, federal agents searched the homes of senior officials within Adams's administration and confiscated electronic devices from the residence of the New York police commissioner.