Charges Unveiled Against NYC Mayor in Multi-Year Bribery and Fraud Plot

Federal indictment charges New York City Mayor Eric Adams with a decades-long campaign fraud and bribery scheme, leaving his political future uncertain.

At a Glance

New York City Mayor Eric Adams faces five criminal charges, including bribery and wire fraud.
Adams allegedly accepted over $100,000 in luxury travel and illegal campaign contributions.
The ongoing federal investigation puts Adams’ political career in jeopardy.
If convicted, Adams could face up to 45 years in prison.

A Defining Moment for Eric Adams

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is facing a severe legal challenge as a federal indictment, unsealed on Thursday, charges him with a long-running campaign fraud and bribery scheme that allegedly began during his tenure as Brooklyn borough president. The 57-page indictment accuses Adams of accepting illegal campaign donations and luxury travel perks worth over $100,000 from Turkish businessmen and officials, purportedly in exchange for political favors.

Adams has been charged with five criminal counts, including bribery, wire fraud, and soliciting illegal foreign campaign contributions. According to U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, Adams was “showered with gifts that he knew were illegal” and engaged in a multiyear scheme to curry favor from rising political figures. The unsealed indictment follows a meticulous investigation, initially surfaced by an FBI raid on Adams’ chief fundraiser nearly a year ago.

New York Mayor Eric Adams, a former police captain, was charged with bribery, fraud and campaign-finance offenses for receiving free flights, meals and hotel stays from Turkish donors. This is the first time a NY mayor has been indicted in modern times. https://t.co/osKih4aPMm

— Juan Forero (@WSJForero) September 26, 2024

Defense and Political Repercussions

Adams remains defiant, denying any wrongdoing and rejecting calls for his resignation. “I ask New Yorkers to wait to hear our defense before making any judgments,” Adams said during a press conference on Thursday. Despite the mounting evidence, Adams insists, “I follow the rules, I follow the federal law; I do not do anything that’s going to participate in illegal campaign activity.”

“This was a multiyear scheme to buy favor with a single New York City politician on the rise: Eric Adams,” declared U.S. Attorney Damian Williams. The 57-page document outlines how Adams allegedly used straw donors to circumvent campaign finance limits, receiving over $10 million in matching funds from New York City. Adams is accused of pressuring the New York Fire Department to approve a Turkish consulate building without proper safety assessments.

BREAKING: NYC Mayor Eric Adams is charged with bribery, wire fraud and receiving campaign contributions from foreign nationals, according to a 57-page federal indictment. https://t.co/Bp2eoSRauq

— Steven Romo (@stevenromo) September 26, 2024

Future Considerations

New York Governor Kathy Hochul is reviewing the charges and has the authority to remove Adams from his position. “DOJ is handling this case independently,” she told reporters. An “inability committee” could also intervene to oust Adams should the circumstances demand immediate action. Notably, prominent New York Democrats, including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have called for Adams to step down.

If convicted, Adams could face up to 45 years in prison and would likely be replaced by Jumaane Williams, the city’s public advocate. The indictment was unsealed following a comprehensive federal investigation that began in 2021, with searches conducted at Gracie Mansion and the seizure of Adams’ electronic devices. This discovery implicates multiple high-ranking officials within Adams’ administration, escalating the scrutiny that has dogged his term.