New York Mayor Eric Adams pleaded not guilty on Friday to serious charges of fraud and bribery, marking a dramatic fall from grace for a politician once seen as a rising star in the Democratic Party.
Appearing in a Manhattan federal court, Eric Adams became the first sitting mayor of New York City to face criminal indictment. He is accused of wire fraud, soliciting illegal campaign donations, and conspiring to accept bribes from Turkish citizens and at least one Turkish official. Judge Katherine Parker scheduled the next hearing for Wednesday.
Despite calls for his resignation, Adams has remained defiant, stating on Thursday that he is “looking forward to defending myself” and urging New Yorkers to “wait to hear our side of the story.” Upon entering the courthouse, the 64-year-old mayor, dressed in a dark blue suit and purple tie, gave a thumbs-up to waiting reporters but made no additional comments.
“I am not guilty, your honor,” Adams declared in court.
U.S. District Attorney Damian Williams outlined the charges, alleging that the mayor had been secretly being showered with gifts over the years. “The conduct alleged in the indictment — the foreign money, the corporate money, the years of concealment — is a grave breach of the public’s trust,” Williams said.
The 57-page indictment details alleged crimes dating back a decade, when Adams served as Brooklyn’s borough president. The charges claim that he accepted luxury international flights, hotel accommodations, and fine dining experiences from Turkish associates in exchange for favours. In one instance, prosecutors contend that Adams pressured the city’s fire department to approve the construction of Turkey’s new high-rise consulate in Manhattan, despite safety concerns.
“The Turkish official got what he wanted, and as we explained in the indictment, just four days after Adams held up his end of the bargain, he went right back to soliciting more travel benefits,” Williams stated.
Eric Adams has faced growing scandal in recent months, with several of his high-ranking allies resigning, others being indicted, and federal agents conducting raids. The situation escalated with a pre-dawn raid on his official residence early Thursday.
Some city and state officials, including prominent Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have called for his resignation, asserting that he must step down “for the good of the city.”
The indictment poses a significant risk to the Democratic Party just weeks ahead of the presidential election, where Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump are polling closely.
Adams, the second Black mayor in New York City’s history, was elected in 2021 on a platform promising to reduce crime, which did decline after a surge during the Covid pandemic. However, the city is currently grappling with a housing crisis marked by skyrocketing rents, and Adams is up for re-election next year.