Eric Adams expected to be arraigned on federal bribery charges
NEW YORK (PIX11) – New York City Mayor Eric Adams is expected in court on Friday to face charges accusing him of accepting lavish gifts and trips from Turkish officials looking to buy his influence.
The 57-page indictment from federal prosecutors claimed that Adams was given free business-class tickets to France, Turkey and China, upgraded hotel suites and millions in foreign campaign contributions. Foreign donors are illegal in the U.S. so politicians aren't influenced by overseas agendas.
Investigators alleged Adams had "straw donors," which are legal U.S. donors who accepted money from foreign nationals and gave it to the Adams campaign. Prosecutors accused Adams of using those donations to receive up to $10 million in the city's matching funds program for campaigns.
Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, laid out five federal charges against Adams during a news conference on Thursday. The charges include bribery, conspiracy, wire fraud and two counts of solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national.
Adams allegedly returned the favor to Turkish officials when he asked to speed up the opening of a consulate building on the east side of Manhattan, even though the FDNY deemed it unsafe, prosecutors said.
"The FDNY thought the building had so many issues and defects that the building was not safe to occupy," Williams said. "That it was 'his turn,' to support Turkey. And as we allege, Adams delivered and pressured the fire department to let the building open."
The indictment laid out text messages between an Adams staffer and another person identified as a promoter, likely someone trying to raise money for the Adams mayoral campaign.
In an exchange from 2018, the fundraiser told the Adams staffer that fundraising in Turkey is not legal, but, "I think I can raise money for your campaign off the record."
The staffer asked, "How will Adams declare that money here?"
The fundraiser responded with, "He won't declare it. Or we'll make the donation through an American citizen in the U.S. A Turk."
The fundraiser went on to say, "I'll give him cash in Turkey, or I'll send it to an American. He will make a donation to you."
Adams' lawyer, Alex Spiro, said the mayor's fingerprints are not on these accusations.
"They don't have Eric Adams doing anything," Spiro said. "They don't have Eric Adams taking in the money. There is no email or text has him doing anything or taking in the money."
Adams responded to the lawsuit on Thursday, saying he does not plan to resign.
“From here, my attorneys will take care of the case so I can take care of the city,” he said during a news conference outside Gracie Mansion. “My day-to-day will not change. I will continue to do the job for 8.3 million New Yorkers that I was elected to do.”
He is expected at court at noon.
Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.