What to know about the Eric Adams indictment and what happens next

New York City Mayor Eric Adams was charged Thursday in a sweeping federal indictment that alleges he solicited illegal funds from Turkish nationals, dating back nearly a decade, and received lavish gifts and travel in exchange for providing foreign officials with favorable government treatment.

The five-count indictment, unsealed by federal prosecutors in Manhattan, charges Adams, a former NYPD captain, with wire fraud, bribery and soliciting campaign funds from foreign nationals. The allegations date back to 2016 when Adams served as Brooklyn borough president.

Adams, the first mayor since the five boroughs were incorporated into New York City to be criminally charged while in office, has denied the allegations and vowed to stay in office.

Here's everything you need to know about the indictment and what comes next.

What does the federal indictment allege?

Prosecutors contend Adams solicited and accepted contributions from foreign nationals to fund his 2021 and 2025 mayoral campaigns.

To circumvent contribution limits and federal laws prohibiting foreign governments or individuals from donating to U.S. campaigns, Adams and his team disguised the money through so-called straw donors — individuals who donate someone else's money, hiding the funding's original source, according to U.S. Attorney Damian Williams.

Funding from the allegedly undisclosed straw donors helped Adams remain eligible for more than $10 million in matching public campaign funds as he became the 110th mayor of the nation's largest city.

What else do prosecutors contend Adams received from Turkish officials and what official acts did he take in return?

In addition to campaign contributions, Turkish officials and business leaders lavished Adams with free or heavily discounted overseas trips to Turkey, France, China, Sri Lanka and Hungary that were not publicly reported on mandated city disclosure forms, prosecutors said. The mayor also received free airline upgrades, stays in opulent hotel suites, complimentary meals at high-end restaurants and deluxe overseas entertainment, the indictment alleges. 

The mayor attempted to mask the bribes by creating phony invoices and falsely reporting them as expenses considerably lower than their actual value, officials said.

In exchange for gifts that ultimately totaled $100,000, Adams allegedly pressured top FDNY officials to bypass a fire inspection and rush the opening of a 36-story Turkish diplomatic consulate in time for a visit by  Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who visited the city in September 2021 for the U.N. General Assembly and ceremonial opening of the consulate.

What was the timeline leading up the indictment?

The first indications that Adams was under active investigation came in early November, when federal agents searched the home of Brianna Suggs, one of his top fundraisers. Three others had their home searched that same day, including the homes of Adams' liaison to the Turkish community and of a former Turkish airline executive. On Nov. 6, FBI agents seized Adams' cellphones and iPad.

During the summer, prosecutors subpoenaed Adams and members of his campaign apparatus, seeking information about the mayor’s schedule, his overseas travel and potential connections to the Turkish government.

In just the past few weeks, federal investigators have cast a rapidly widening net over the Adams administration, seizing devices from Adams' former NYPD commissioner and his twin brother, the city's new police commissioner, schools chancellor, and two deputy mayors.

Several months before, Adams' director of Asian affairs had her homes raided by the FBI.

What is Adams' response to the indictment?

On Thursday morning, in a hastily arranged news conference outside Gracie Mansion, Adams denied the charges and vowed to remain in office, despite widespread calls for his resignation.

"It's an unfortunate day and it's a painful day. But inside all of that is a day when we will finally reveal why, for 10 months, I’ve gone through this," Adams said, flanked by longtime supporters and minority leaders, including New York State NAACP president Hazel Dukes. "I look forward to defending myself and defending the people of this city, as I've done throughout my entire career."

What happens next?

There's essentially three options for the mayor at this point.

Adams could choose to remain in office while fighting the charges — a tact he and his team appear to be employing, at least for now. 

He could resign — a route several prominent city and state lawmakers, including past and potential future candidates for mayor, have suggested Adams take. 

Or Gov. Kathy Hochul could forcibly remove Adams from office, as outlined in the City Charter. The governor has stopped short, so far, of calling for Adams to step down.

Who would take over as mayor if Adams resigns or is removed?

If Adams were to resign, a special election would be scheduled. In the interim, the city’s public advocate, Jumaane Williams, would serve as acting mayor.

By Robert Brodsky

robert.brodsky@newsday.com@BrodskyRobert

Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.