Mayor Eric Adams says "I am not guilty" in federal court on indictment charging bribery, fraud, conspiracy
New York City mayor Eric Adams arrives at Manhattan federal court on Friday morning. Credit: AP/Yuki Iwamura
New York City Mayor Eric Adams pleaded not guilty in federal court Friday on charges that he took campaign money from Turkish nationals in exchange for favorable treatment by city agencies, and hid the contributions from the public.
Adams, who is with his lawyer Alex Spiros before Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker, was indicted Thursday on charges of wire fraud, bribery and conspiracy to receive campaign funds from foreign nationals, five counts in all.
"I am not guilty, your honor," he told the judge before a packed courtroom, when asked if he wanted to enter a plea.
Parker released Adams on his own recognizance and he was not forced to surrender his passport. He was ordered not to speak with family members, staffers or witnesses about the case but he does not have to avoid them completely, the judge ruled.
The judge warned him that if he fails to appear in court, a warrant could be issued for his arrest.
He was escorted by U.S. marshals to the magistrate's clerk office to sign a personal recognizance bond in which he pledges to return to court.
At the start of the hearing, which lasted less than 20 minutes, Parker had explained the charges against the mayor and asked Adams if he understood his rights. "Yes, I do, your honor," Adams replied grimly.
The mayor had entered the Manhattan federal courtroom on Pearl Street with Spiro on the 26th floor dressed in a dark blue suit and a red patterned tie. He looked tense and avoided eye contact with the press and sketch artists seated in the jury box. He looked straight ahead or down at the defense table as he waited for the arraignment to begin. He absent-mindedly played with a bracelet of prayer beads he wears on his right wrist.
Earlier Friday morning, amid of throng of reporters and police officers, he walked into the courthouse to turn himself in, Adams had flashed a smile and gave a thumbs up.
The 64-year-old Democrats is the first mayor in the city's recent history to be criminally charged while in office. His indictment came amid several ongoing federal investigations into officials in his administration.
The mayor has professed his innocence and vowed to fight the charges, saying Thursday evening he will stay in office. But he faces calls to resign from many quarters and the possibility of being forced out.
Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has the power to remove the mayor, said on Thursday evening that she would review her “options and obligations” and find an “appropriate path forward to ensure the people of New York City are being well-served by their leaders.”
The city charter also establishes an Inability Committee — a group of appointed and elected officials, some appointed by Adams — that can kick a mayor out. And already, several elected officials have called for his resignation.
An initial hearing in the case has been set for Wednesday morning.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams charged in a 57-page indictment that Adams began soliciting campaign contributions and free luxury airfare from Turkish officials and business people going back to 2016 when he was still the Brooklyn borough president.
Turkish Airlines officials regularly upgraded Adams, his girlfriend and family members on trips to France, China, Sri Lanka, Hungary, Turkey and other foreign locales. Regulary, Adams paid for coach seats or nothing, but was upgraded to business class. In total, federal authorities said that received more than $120,000 in free airfare.
Adams’s Turkish benefactors also contributed generously to his 2021 campaign for mayor, hiding the donations through straw donors. As a candidate, Adams received millions of dollars in public money through the city’s matching funds program that granted him $8 to every $1 in private contributions. The program and federal law explicitly prohibits foreign nationals from contributing to election campaigns.
Adams knew this, federal prosecutors charged, which is why he hid the donations through straw donors.
"We can't take any money from people who are not US citizens," federal authorities quoted a staffer saying.
Adams returned the largesse of his Turkish benefactors by putting pressure on public officials to circumvent city rules and regulations.
Before he became mayor, Adams leaned on the FDNY commissioner and fire inspection officials to open the Turkish consulate – ahead of the U.N. General Assembly visit by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan – after they found safety issues with the 36-story building’s fire suppression system.
Adams intervened to clear a stop-work order on construction being performed on a New York building of another Turkish businessman and rebuffed a local cultural group that had fallen out of favor with the Turkish government.
“As alleged, Mayor Adams abused his position as this City’s highest elected official, and before that as Brooklyn Borough President, to take bribes and solicit illegal campaign contributions,” U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said Thursday. “By allegedly taking improper and illegal benefits from foreign nationals—including to allow a Manhattan skyscraper to open without a fire inspection—Adams put the interests of his benefactors, including a foreign official, above those of his constituents.”
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New York City Mayor Eric Adams pleaded not guilty in federal court Friday on charges that he took campaign money from Turkish nationals in exchange for favorable treatment by city agencies, and hid the contributions from the public.
Adams, who is with his lawyer Alex Spiros before Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker, was indicted Thursday on charges of wire fraud, bribery and conspiracy to receive campaign funds from foreign nationals, five counts in all.
"I am not guilty, your honor," he told the judge before a packed courtroom, when asked if he wanted to enter a plea.
Parker released Adams on his own recognizance and he was not forced to surrender his passport. He was ordered not to speak with family members, staffers or witnesses about the case but he does not have to avoid them completely, the judge ruled.
The judge warned him that if he fails to appear in court, a warrant could be issued for his arrest.
He was escorted by U.S. marshals to the magistrate's clerk office to sign a personal recognizance bond in which he pledges to return to court.
At the start of the hearing, which lasted less than 20 minutes, Parker had explained the charges against the mayor and asked Adams if he understood his rights. "Yes, I do, your honor," Adams replied grimly.
The mayor had entered the Manhattan federal courtroom on Pearl Street with Spiro on the 26th floor dressed in a dark blue suit and a red patterned tie. He looked tense and avoided eye contact with the press and sketch artists seated in the jury box. He looked straight ahead or down at the defense table as he waited for the arraignment to begin. He absent-mindedly played with a bracelet of prayer beads he wears on his right wrist.
Earlier Friday morning, amid of throng of reporters and police officers, he walked into the courthouse to turn himself in, Adams had flashed a smile and gave a thumbs up.
The 64-year-old Democrats is the first mayor in the city's recent history to be criminally charged while in office. His indictment came amid several ongoing federal investigations into officials in his administration.
The mayor has professed his innocence and vowed to fight the charges, saying Thursday evening he will stay in office. But he faces calls to resign from many quarters and the possibility of being forced out.
Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has the power to remove the mayor, said on Thursday evening that she would review her “options and obligations” and find an “appropriate path forward to ensure the people of New York City are being well-served by their leaders.”
The city charter also establishes an Inability Committee — a group of appointed and elected officials, some appointed by Adams — that can kick a mayor out. And already, several elected officials have called for his resignation.
An initial hearing in the case has been set for Wednesday morning.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams charged in a 57-page indictment that Adams began soliciting campaign contributions and free luxury airfare from Turkish officials and business people going back to 2016 when he was still the Brooklyn borough president.
Turkish Airlines officials regularly upgraded Adams, his girlfriend and family members on trips to France, China, Sri Lanka, Hungary, Turkey and other foreign locales. Regulary, Adams paid for coach seats or nothing, but was upgraded to business class. In total, federal authorities said that received more than $120,000 in free airfare.
Adams’s Turkish benefactors also contributed generously to his 2021 campaign for mayor, hiding the donations through straw donors. As a candidate, Adams received millions of dollars in public money through the city’s matching funds program that granted him $8 to every $1 in private contributions. The program and federal law explicitly prohibits foreign nationals from contributing to election campaigns.
Adams knew this, federal prosecutors charged, which is why he hid the donations through straw donors.
"We can't take any money from people who are not US citizens," federal authorities quoted a staffer saying.
Adams returned the largesse of his Turkish benefactors by putting pressure on public officials to circumvent city rules and regulations.
Before he became mayor, Adams leaned on the FDNY commissioner and fire inspection officials to open the Turkish consulate – ahead of the U.N. General Assembly visit by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan – after they found safety issues with the 36-story building’s fire suppression system.
Adams intervened to clear a stop-work order on construction being performed on a New York building of another Turkish businessman and rebuffed a local cultural group that had fallen out of favor with the Turkish government.
“As alleged, Mayor Adams abused his position as this City’s highest elected official, and before that as Brooklyn Borough President, to take bribes and solicit illegal campaign contributions,” U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said Thursday. “By allegedly taking improper and illegal benefits from foreign nationals—including to allow a Manhattan skyscraper to open without a fire inspection—Adams put the interests of his benefactors, including a foreign official, above those of his constituents.”
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