New York City Mayor Eric Adams Faces Charges of Wire Fraud and Bribery
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has found himself in legal trouble as he faces five federal charges, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery, and receiving campaign contributions from foreign nationals. The indictment, obtained by NBC News, alleges that Adams sought and accepted luxury international travel from wealthy businesspeople and a Turkish government official for nearly a decade in exchange for official favors.
The 57-page federal indictment, unsealed on Sept. 26, paints a damning picture of Adams’ alleged actions. Prosecutors from the Southern District of New York claim that Adams not only accepted but actively sought illegal campaign contributions for his 2021 mayoral campaign and other benefits from foreign nationals. As Adams’ prominence and power grew, his foreign-national benefactors allegedly sought to exploit their corrupt relationships with him for personal gain.
The indictment further alleges that after being inaugurated as Mayor, Adams began preparing to solicit illegal contributions for his next election. Many of the bribery allegations involve ties to Turkey, with Adams allegedly accepting a heavily discounted stay at the St. Regis Istanbul in 2017, among other perks. Adams is accused of accepting over $100,000 in free or discounted travel on Turkey’s national airline, free meals at high-end restaurants in Turkey, and free luxurious entertainment.
Prosecutors claim that Adams attempted to conceal his misconduct by creating fake paper trails and deleting messages, including assuring a co-conspirator in writing that he always deleted her messages. Among the favors Adams allegedly granted as Mayor was allowing a new Turkish consular building to open without a fire inspection from the New York Fire Department, which would have failed the inspection otherwise. The document alleges that an FDNY official was threatened with losing his job if he did not comply with Adams’ intervention.
In addition to travel and entertainment perks, the indictment alleges that Adams received illegal campaign contributions from foreign donors, including a Turkish government official. Adams’ alleged actions have raised serious concerns about ethical violations and abuse of power within his administration.
During a news conference following the unsealing of the indictment, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams criticized Adams for keeping the public in the dark about his alleged misconduct. Williams stated, “Year after year after year, he kept the public in the dark. He told the public he received no gifts, even though he was secretly being showered with them.” Adams, on the other hand, maintained his innocence during a press conference, stating that he is “not surprised” by the probes into his administration.
Adams expressed his determination to fight the charges with every ounce of his strength and spirit, emphasizing that he is innocent. He urged New Yorkers to withhold judgment until they hear his defense. The unfolding legal case against Mayor Adams has sparked widespread interest and concern within the city and beyond.
As the legal proceedings against Mayor Adams continue, the public awaits further developments and a resolution to the charges brought against him. The implications of these allegations on Adams’ tenure as Mayor and the future of New York City remain uncertain. The outcome of the case will undoubtedly have far-reaching consequences for Adams, his administration, and the city as a whole.
