New York Mayor Eric Adams Charged With Accepting Bribes, Illegal Campaign Funds From Foreign Sources

NEW YORK (AP) — New York Mayor Eric Adams was indicted Thursday on charges that he accepted illegal campaign contributions and bribes from foreign nationals in exchange for favors, including helping Turkish officials obtain fire safety permits for a new diplomatic building in the city.

Adams, a former police officer, faces charges of conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery in a five-count indictment that outlines a decade-long crime spree.

The U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan alleges in the indictment that Adams “not only accepted, but sought illegal contributions” to his mayoral campaign. A senior Turkish diplomatic official “facilitated numerous fictitious donations” to Adams and arranged for Adams and his companions to receive free or discounted travel on Turkey’s national airline to destinations including France, China, Sri Lanka, India, Hungary and Turkey, the indictment says.

Adams “increased his earnings” from illegal campaign contributions by abusing the city’s matching fund program, which provides generous matching for small donations. His campaign received more than $10,000 in matching funds from the false certifications, according to the indictment.

Adams allegedly “solicited and demanded” bribes, including free or discounted luxury travel, from a Turkish official, according to the indictment, which states that the official sought Adams’ help with regulations at the Turkish consulate in Manhattan. Adams allegedly created and directed others to create false paper trails to falsely suggest that he had paid for travel perks that were in fact free, prosecutors said. He also allegedly deleted messages with others implicated in his misconduct, at one point assuring a co-conspirator that he “always” deleted her text messages, according to the indictment.

The charges were made public hours after FBI agents entered the mayor’s official residence and seized his phone early Thursday.

“Federal agents showed up this morning at Gracie Mansion with the intent of creating a spectacle (again) and taking Mayor Adams’ phone (again),” Adams’ attorney Alex Spiro said in a statement hours before the indictment was unsealed. “They’re sending a dozen agents to retrieve a phone that we would have gladly given up.”

In a video address released Wednesday night, Adams vowed to contest any charges against him, saying he had been made a “target” in a case “based on lies.”

“I will fight against these injustices with all my strength and with all my spirit,” he said.

The indictment caps an extraordinary few weeks in New York, as federal investigators have focused on members of Adams’ inner circle, producing a rhythm of raids, subpoenas and high-level resignations that has plunged City Hall into crisis.

The Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office declined to comment on the investigation, but said it would announce “significant public corruption charges” at a news conference at 11:30 a.m. An FBI spokesman declined to comment. A spokesman for the mayor did not immediately respond to questions Thursday morning.

Adams spent 22 years with the New York City Police Department before entering politics, first as a state senator and then as Brooklyn borough president. He was elected the city’s second Black mayor in 2021.

In a video address released Wednesday night, Adams vowed to contest any charges against him, saying he had been made a “target” in a case “based on lies.”

Gov. Kathy Hochul has the power to remove Adams from office. Her spokesman, Avi Small, issued a statement Wednesday night saying, “Governor Hochul is aware of these disturbing reports and is monitoring the situation. It would be premature to comment further until the matter is confirmed by law enforcement.”

The indictment caps an extraordinary few weeks in New York, during which federal investigators have focused on members of Adams’ inner circle, producing a rhythm of raids, subpoenas and high-level resignations.

Federal prosecutors are believed to be pursuing several separate investigations involving Adams and his top aides, those aides’ relatives, campaign fundraising and possible influence peddling by police and fire departments.

In the past two weeks alone, the city’s police commissioner and school system superintendent have announced their resignations.

Nearly a year ago, FBI agents seized Adams’ electronic devices as part of an investigation focused, at least in part, on campaign contributions and Adams’ interactions with the Turkish government. Because the charges were kept secret, it was unclear whether the same cases involved the same events.

In early September, federal investigators seized devices belonging to the police commissioner, the schools chancellor, two deputy mayors and other trusted individuals inside and outside City Hall.

All have denied any wrongdoing.