A federal indictment against New York Mayor Eric Adams was unsealed on Thursday, accusing him of accepting bribes and illegal campaign contributions from foreign sources. The indictment includes five criminal charges, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Prosecutors allege that Adams accepted benefits from foreign businesspeople and a Turkish government official in an attempt to influence him.
Adams, who is the first New York City mayor to be criminally charged while in office, released a video statement denying the claims made by prosecutors. He stated that he will not resign as mayor and described the allegations as biased and false.
The unsealed indictment also accuses Adams of exploiting the city’s matching funds program by using illegal contributions from foreign officials. His campaign allegedly received over $10,000 in matching public funds as a result of false certifications.
Additionally, prosecutors claim that Adams solicited bribes from the Turkish official, including heavily discounted and free travel benefits. The official reportedly sought Adams’s assistance in evading regulations for commissioning the Turkish consulate in Manhattan.
The indictment further alleges that Adams deleted messages with individuals involved in the scheme and engaged in actions to create fake paper trails regarding travel-related benefits.
U.S. Attorney Damien Williams stated during a news conference that Adams violated the public’s trust through a long-running corruption scheme dating back nearly a decade. He specifically mentioned Adam’s alleged pressure on the FDNY to approve the Turkish consulate as “corrupt official action.”
Amidst these developments, several Democrats have called for Adam’s resignation for ”the good of the city.” New York has experienced political upheaval recently with resignations from key figures such as Police Commissioner Edward Caban and Chief Legal Adviser.
If Adams chooses to step down before his term ends, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams will assume office as acting mayor. The Epoch Times reached out to Adam’s office for comment on these charges.
