In a shocking political scandal, New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted on federal charges stemming from a nearly decade-long conspiracy involving bribes, illegal campaign contributions, and the influence of foreign interests. The indictment, unsealed Thursday morning, accuses Adams of accepting bribes, free travel, and luxury accommodations in exchange for political favors, with connections dating back to his tenure as Brooklyn borough president.
The 57-page indictment alleges that Adams received illegal campaign contributions from foreign sources, particularly from Turkish business and government officials, to bolster his political career, including his 2021 mayoral campaign. These activities were facilitated through U.S.-based straw donors and New York construction companies, enabling Adams to amass over $10 million in public-matching funds by falsely certifying compliance with campaign finance regulations.
National Review reports on how the indictment details how Adams enjoyed free flights and stays in luxurious hotels, courtesy of Turkish officials, in exchange for favorable treatment. The document highlights trips Adams took to various countries, including Turkey, India, France, Sri Lanka, China, and Hungary, between 2015 and 2019. These trips, valued at over $100,000, were part of a broader effort by Turkish officials to curry favor with Adams and gain political influence in New York City.
Turkish officials also reportedly sought Adams’s help in fast-tracking the approval of a 36-story consulate building in New York City. According to prosecutors, Adams pressured city fire officials to approve the building despite it failing a fire inspection. The building was eventually approved after city officials feared they would lose their jobs if they did not comply.
Adams faces five federal charges, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery, and soliciting campaign contributions from foreign nationals. The indictment makes him the first sitting New York City mayor to face criminal charges. Federal investigators raided Adams’s official residence at Gracie Mansion and seized his phone as part of the ongoing investigation.
In response, Adams’s attorney, Alex Spiro, criticized the FBI’s actions, claiming the raid was a spectacle meant to embarrass the mayor. Spiro maintained that Adams looks forward to defending himself in court and insisted that they would have cooperated fully with investigators. Adams himself, in a video statement on Wednesday, expressed his innocence and urged the public to reserve judgment until his defense is heard.
“We are not surprised. We expected this,” Adams said during a Thursday news conference outside his residence. He emphasized that the investigation had been unfolding for ten months, characterized by leaks and negative commentary. Adams called on New Yorkers to keep an open mind and wait for his side of the story.
The indictment is the latest development in a broader corruption probe that has already resulted in high-profile resignations within the Adams administration. In recent weeks, the mayor’s police commissioner, schools chancellor, and chief legal counsel have all stepped down. The investigation initially came to public attention when the FBI raided the home of Brianna Suggs, Adams’s chief fundraiser, nearly a year ago. Since then, federal authorities have conducted several raids, seizing phones and documents from Adams’s top staff.
Prosecutors are also investigating Adams’s financial ties to multiple foreign countries, including Israel, China, Qatar, South Korea, and Uzbekistan, raising concerns about the extent of foreign influence over the mayor’s office.
During a press conference following the unsealing of the indictment, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams emphasized the gravity of the charges against Adams, calling it a “grave breach of the public’s trust.” Williams stated that the allegations point to a long-running scheme where Adams repeatedly crossed ethical and legal lines in pursuit of personal and political gain.
“Public office is a privilege,” Williams said. “We allege that Mayor Adams abused that privilege and broke the law, laws that are designed to ensure that officials like him serve the people, not the highest bidder, not a foreign leader, and certainly not a foreign power.”
