Former President Trump said he anticipated New York City Mayor Eric Adams would be indicted within a year, while calling for the need for an honest Justice Department.
Trump spoke to reporters inside Trump Tower in New York on Thursday afternoon, and later answered several questions on topics including the war in Ukraine, Iran and the indictment of Adams, who was indicted in court. Manhattan Grand Jury Wednesday on federal criminal charges following a campaign corruption investigation.
A reporter asked if Trump thought Adams would get a fair trial, and Trump said he didn’t know.
Trump said he didn’t know Adams very well, even acknowledging that the current mayor had been generous to Trump in his statements. The “worst mayor ever,” Trump claimed, was former Mayor Bill de Blasio, who served in office before Adams.
NEW YORK MAYOR ERIC ADAMS INCHARGED
Former president and Republican presidential candidate Trump delivers remarks to the press at Trump Tower in New York on Thursday. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images)
“I will say this. I watched it about a year ago when [Adams] I talked about how illegal immigrants are harming our city, and the federal government should pay us and we shouldn’t have to put up with them,” Trump said. “I said, ‘You know what? He will be charged within a year. And I was absolutely right because that’s what we have.
“We have people using the Department of Justice and the FBI at levels that have never been seen before,” Trump added, wishing Adams well.
Trump admitted he knew nothing about what Adams had done to get indicted, but a group in the room told Trump he was right about his prediction.
FBI raids home of NYC Mayor ERIC ADAMS’ top fundraiser BRIANNA SUGGS, SOURCE SAYS
New York City Mayor Eric Adams speaks during a news conference outside Gracie Mansion Thursday in New York. (Rashid Umar Abbasi for Fox News Digital)
On Wednesday, the mayor was charged with one count of conspiracy to receive campaign contributions from foreign nationals and wire fraud and bribery, as well as one count of wire fraud, two counts one count of soliciting campaign contributions from foreign nationals and one count of solicitation and acceptance. a bribe.
But Trump continued to speak out about the immigration issue that Adams spoke ill of, and called on federal officials to pay New York City to handle it.
“He said it’s really unfair to put this burden on us. We shouldn’t be doing this. This is New York,” Trump said.
Adams’ office is going after an FBI employee who may have “inappropriately disclosed details” about a corruption investigation.
Former President Trump wished New York Mayor Eric Adams luck in his fight against the Justice Department. (Trump: Angelia Weiss/AFP via Getty Images; Adams: Rashid Umar Abbasi for Fox News Digital)
The parks are crowded, said Trump, a former city resident, adding that he recently walked past the Roosevelt Hotel and found it unrecognizable.
“He was strongly opposed to it. He was right, because it is ruining our country,” he declared. “He was honest and I said he would be charged within a year. And that’s what happened.”
Trump said the indictments were a long time ago, comparing them to when he was indicted in New York.
The prosecution ensured that the charges occurred before the statute of limitations in both cases, Trump noted, wishing him luck.
“That’s what they do. They’re dirty players. They’re bad people,” Trump said. “They cheat and do whatever is necessary. They are bad people. And we need an honest Justice Department. We need an honest FBI, and we need it fast.”
Adams’ office is going after an FBI employee who may have “inappropriately disclosed details” about a corruption investigation.
Law enforcement officers leave New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ Gracie Mansion residence in New York City on Thursday. (Rashid Umar Abbasi for Fox News Digital)
The FBI is reportedly looking into whether Adams’ 2021 mayoral campaign conspired with the Turkish government and other entities to raise funds. Some New York officials were also questioned about possible investigations into contacts with China.
The alleged fraud diverted more public funds to the mayor’s campaign under a scheme that supplements small donations with taxpayer-funded matching grants of up to $2,000, according to the indictment . According to court documents, a donation of just $250 from an individual could send a candidate up to $2,000 in “matching funds” from taxpayers. This happened so frequently that Adams reportedly received $10 million from the program.
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In addition to campaign donations, Adams reportedly received other perks such as free flights on Turkish Airlines to destinations in Europe and Asia, free hotel stays and free upscale meals. In one case, he reportedly asked if he could fly to Chilean Easter Island on a Turkish plane – but was unable to do so because it did not offer a connection to New York and this South American countries.
Michael Ruiz of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
