New York City Mayor Eric Adams surrendered to federal authorities on Friday after being indicted on five corruption charges, which allege he accepted bribes and campaign contributions from foreign nationals.
Adams, 64, is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine Parker in Manhattan at noon, where he will likely be asked to enter a plea.
Despite the numerous investigations his administration has faced, Adams has denied any wrongdoing, stating that he intends to fight the charges in court. “I will continue to do my job as mayor,” Adams told reporters on Thursday, just before the indictment was made public.
Adams is facing five charges: conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, bribery, and two counts of soliciting campaign contributions from foreign nationals.
The grand jury handed down the indictment on Tuesday, with the charges being unsealed on Thursday.
Federal prosecutors allege that Turkish diplomats and businesspeople illegally funneled money into Adams’ campaign while providing him with luxury travel perks, including stays at lavish hotels and meals at upscale restaurants.
Eric Adams (Photo: Seth Wenig)
According to the indictment, Adams defrauded the city’s public campaign finance system of $10 million and accepted $100,000 worth of free travel to destinations such as France, China, Sri Lanka, India, Hungary, and Turkey.
In return, Adams allegedly used his influence in 2021 to pressure city officials into approving Turkey’s new 36-story consulate despite safety concerns, prosecutors said.
The scheme is said to have originated in 2014, when Adams became Brooklyn borough president, and the illicit campaign contributions reportedly financed his 2021 mayoral campaign.
“As Adams’ prominence and power grew, his foreign-national benefactors sought to capitalize on their corrupt relationship with him,” the indictment reads. “Adams agreed, providing favorable treatment in exchange for the illicit benefits he received.”
Adams, a former police officer who rose to the rank of captain, is the first sitting mayor in New York City’s history to face federal criminal charges.
This legal turmoil follows the resignation of New York Police Commissioner Eric Caban on September 12, after FBI agents seized his phone. Just days later, Adams’ chief legal advisor, Lisa Zornberg, also stepped down.
