NYC Mayor Eric Adams Charged With Bribery And Fraud

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 21: New York City Mayor Eric Adams attends the annual German American Steuben Parade on September 21, 2024, on 5th Avenue in New York City. (Photo by Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images)

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been charged with bribery, fraud, and accepting illegal foreign campaign donations. The indictment, unsealed on Thursday, claims Adams received over $100,000 in luxury travel benefits, including free and discounted Turkish Airlines tickets, meals, and hotel accommodations. These benefits allegedly began in 2014 when he served as Brooklyn borough president and continued after he became mayor. Prosecutors accuse Adams of conspiring with the Turkish government and taking official actions in exchange for these perks.

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Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney in Manhattan, stated Adams “sought and accepted improper valuable benefits,” with the indictment detailing his use of Turkish Airlines, even on inconvenient flights. In one instance, Adams flew to France via Istanbul in 2017. Prosecutors claim Adams tried to conceal the gifts by making them appear as if he had paid for them and deleting messages to cover his tracks.

According to the indictment, Adams pressured the New York Fire Department to approve a new Turkish consulate in Manhattan. He did this despite known fire safety issues. Adams allegedly threatened a fire department official’s job if they didn’t comply. Prosecutors claim Adams engaged in bribery. His foreign benefactors reportedly sought favors in exchange for the perks as his political career advanced.

On Thursday morning, federal agents searched Gracie Mansion, Adams’ official residence, as part of the investigation. His lawyer, Alex Spiro, criticized the search as a spectacle. He stated that Adams “has not been arrested and looks forward to his day in court.”

Despite calls for his resignation, including from Democratic primary challengers, Adams remains defiant. He told New Yorkers to “wait to hear our defense” and proclaimed his innocence, saying, “I would be a target — and a target I became.”


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