Federal prosecutors said Wednesday they are working on “several related investigations” that could lead to additional corruption charges against the mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, and people around him.
Prosecutors made the revelation as Adams appeared in court at a hearing, days after being accused of accepting free or deeply discounted international flights, hotel accommodations, food and entertainment, all worth nearly $100,000, for part of foreign interests, and obtaining illegal campaign contributions. The allegations span nearly a decade, dating back to Adams’ time as Brooklyn borough president.
U.S. District Judge Dale Ho did not immediately set a date for his trial, which prosecutors estimated will last about four weeks. Adams’ lawyer, Alex Spiro, asked to hold the trial in March, before an important deadline for next June’s mayoral elections.
Prosecutors say the travel benefits were arranged by a high-level Turkish diplomatic official in New York and by Turkish businessmen who wanted to gain influence with Adams. The indictment alleges that Adams, a Democrat, also conspired to receive monetary donations for his political campaigns through front men, which came from foreign sources who were not permitted to donate money to American political candidates.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hagan Scotten told Judge Dale Ho that it is “quite likely” that prosecutors will seek a substitute indictment, that other people are “likely” to be charged, and that more charges are “possible” against Adams, who last week pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
Scotten said part of the evidence includes Turkish Airlines records showing that Adams did not pay for the flights, or that he paid a few hundred dollars for an economy class ticket “to create the illusion that he was the one paying” when in In reality, he received several thousand dollars worth of free upgrades.
Other evidence includes bank, credit card and phone records, campaign finance documents, emails and text messages, Scotten said. Some of the material, including communications between alleged co-conspirators who arranged the trips and campaign donations, is written in Turkish, he said.
The hearing was Adams’ first court appearance following his arraignment hearing on Friday.
The mayor did not comment to reporters after the hearing, but gave a quick thumbs up before returning to his black SUV to address a police briefing on increased security due to the Jewish New Year.
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