() – New York City’s embattled mayor, who has long touted his crime-fighting work as an NYPD captain, pleaded not guilty Friday to federal corruption charges.
Mayor Eric Adams waived the reading of the indictment, which charges him with bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy and two counts of soliciting campaign contributions from foreign nationals.
“I am innocent, your honor,” Adams said in a federal courtroom in Lower Manhattan.
The mayor, a Democrat elected in 2021, has denied any wrongdoing and said he does not plan to resign.
“I look forward to defending myself and the people of this city, as I have done throughout my entire professional career,” the mayor said Thursday.
Between 2016 and October 2023, Adams sought and accepted benefits such as free luxury trips and campaign donations from foreign businessmen, according to a 57-page, 15,000-word indictment.
Adams allegedly committed 23 different “overt acts,” including accepting free flights and hotel rooms and coordinating covert donations.
Prosecutors say foreign nationals were able to circumvent federal law and hide their campaign donations through these “covert donors” – U.S.-based donors who falsely claimed they were contributing their own money.
In 2017, Adams allegedly accepted free business class tickets for three round-trip international flights, and a deeply discounted stay in a suite at the St. Regis Istanbul hotel. The trip was worth more than $41,000 and Adams did not disclose it, according to the indictment.
Adams allegedly accepted more than $123,000 in luxury travel benefits between 2016 and 2021, without disclosing any of them.
By 2018, the mayor allegedly “not only accepted, but sought illegal campaign contributions for his 2021 mayoral campaign, as well as other things of value, from foreign nationals.”
By January 2022, he had agreed to accept contributions of foreign money for his 2025 campaign, according to the indictment.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s team is informing allies and other stakeholders that she is now seriously considering removing Adams from office, a power she has under state law.
A source briefed on the governor’s thinking told that Hochul has come to view Adams’ situation as “unsustainable.” But no decision has been announced.
Before the allegation against Adams was revealed, Hochul apparently had not considered removing the mayor. But after reviewing the allegation, the governor suggested in a statement Thursday night that all options were on the table.
“I hope that the mayor will take the next few days to review the situation and find an appropriate path forward to ensure that the people of New York City are well served by their leaders,” Hochul said.
Lawyers in the governor’s office have begun reviewing the legal language of the impeachment authority, another source familiar with the situation told .
Although many local lawmakers have called for Adams to resign, some high-profile New York Democrats in Congress have not been as clear on the matter. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer avoided calling for Adams to resign in their most recent statements.
“No one is above the law, including the mayor of New York City,” Schumer said in a written statement Thursday. “The charges are serious and the legal process must be carried out quickly and fairly.”
But Jeffries could face pressure from New York House candidates concerned that the Adams scandal could hurt their election prospects.
Adams “is entitled to the presumption of innocence, and a jury of the mayor’s peers will now evaluate the charges in the indictment and ultimately issue a determination,” Jeffries said.
Hochul and Adams have had a good working relationship. The two have collaborated on public safety issues, including crime in the city’s subways, which are controlled by the state. The relationship is a significant improvement over previous years, when former New York mayors and governors have openly feuded over city policies and funding.
The Rev. Al Sharpton, a veteran political activist, is convening the city’s black leaders this weekend, according to a person familiar with the plans.
Sharpton is aware of the many “complexities” of Adams’ situation and wants to examine all possibilities, the source said. Sharpton is also concerned about the impact the situation will have on the city, the source added.
Community representatives and legislators, including Jeffries, are expected to attend the meeting, although Jeffries’ attendance has not been confirmed.
Jeffries and Adams have much in common, including their humble origins and aggressive campaign styles. But while sources say the two New Yorkers respect each other, they have never been close.
The congressman is aware that calling for the mayor’s resignation “would involve a sense of guilt,” and that is not something he would do or take lightly, according to a person familiar with Jeffries’ thinking.
For now, the mayor cannot work at city hall. Adams remains under arrest as of Friday morning and cannot leave the courthouse until the magistrate makes a decision on next steps.
Following his arraignment Friday, Adams’ next appearance before a district judge is scheduled for Wednesday.
If convicted on all charges, Adams could face up to 45 years in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The most serious charge is wire fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. That charge stems from allegations that Adams stole from New York City’s matching funds program.
The program is designed “to give New Yorkers a greater voice in elections,” and matches donations from city residents with public funds. However, it prohibits the use of disguised donations, according to the indictment. The program requires candidates to certify compliance with campaign finance regulations.
The indictment alleges that Adams not only received illegal campaign contributions, but then allegedly used eight of those improper donations to solicit matching funds and obtained up to $2,000 for each illegal contribution. His campaign then falsely certified compliance, according to the indictment.
The indictment does not add up to the amount of public matching funds that Adams allegedly received directly from the eight illegal undercover donations. Adams’ 2021 mayoral campaign ultimately received more than $10,000,000 in public funds from the city’s matching funds program, according to the indictment.
Bribery is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. That charge relates to the alleged quid pro quo of receiving luxury travel benefits from a Turkish official in exchange for pushing for approval of the Turkish House, a center for Turkish diplomatic missions in New York City, according to the indictment.
The two counts of soliciting campaign contributions from foreign nationals are punishable by up to 5 years in prison each. One of the charges is based on accusations from 2021 and the other on accusations from 2023.
Finally, there is a conspiracy charge, which is punishable by up to 5 years in prison. That charge alleges that Adams “and others known and unknown” agreed to commit federal crimes, including wire fraud; request, accept and receive a campaign contribution; and bribery. The indictment lists 23 specific “overt acts” in support of the conspiracy.
‘s Kara Scannell, Nicki Brown, John Miller and Shimon Prokupecz contributed to this report.
Add Comment